Nationwide H1N1 Event Log to help ongoing challenges of flu pandemic

Oct 21 2009

As hospitals prepare for the ongoing challenges of the H1N1 influenza pandemic, the industry’s leading web-based emergency preparedness and incident management solutions provider is helping health authorities better access and manage critical information within their facilities and regions.

LiveProcess launched a nationwide H1N1 Event Log on October 1 designed to help regional healthcare organizations more effectively deal with the expected patient surge, consolidate the massive flow of disease-related communications and coordinate regional events with their constituent hospitals and other healthcare facilities.

LiveProcess will post H1N1-related news from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Health and Human Services, World Health Organization, state health departments and other agencies. Ongoing updates will allow personnel to exchange critical information such as current H1N1 status and available supplies and inventory. The platform allows healthcare emergency management professionals to conduct pandemic flu drills and exercises while effectively managing events and public health threats in real time.

“The national H1N1 event we launched should be a valuable resource for our regional providers for sharing critical information and policies,” said Mitch Saruwatari, vice president of quality and compliance for LiveProcess. “Our intent is that regions and facilities will similarly create customized area events for improving communication and coordination among their own response organizations.” Saruwatari is a recognized national emergency management expert who co-chaired the development of the National Incident Management System (NIMS) compliant Hospital Incident Command System (HICS).

Ninety nine percent of all of the influenza viruses identified by the CDC so far are 2009 H1N1 influenza A viruses. According to the agency, 21 states are currently reporting widespread influenza activity

“The H1N1 pandemic poses serious challenges to our hospitals, and we’re hopeful this event log will help our emergency coordinators deal with the surge more effectively,” said Michael Osur, deputy director of the Riverside County Department of Public Health. State health officials have said most of the current flu cases in the state have been H1N1, and a significant increase is expected in the fall.

“As hospitals across the country brace for the anticipated H1N1 patient surge, it will be critical that hospitals and their communities are prepared with detailed plans on how to handle the surge. This would include the need to share information in a timely manner,” said Anthony Burke, CEO and President of the American Hospital Associations Solutions Inc.