H1N1 (Swine Influenza) Message 11: May 29 Update - H1N1 Still on the Rise; Need for Continued Vigilance
Although getting much less attention by the media this week, H1N1 influenza is, if anything, increasing. Cases across the United States and especially in the Northeast continue to rise. At BIDMC, we have seen a sharp increase in the number of cases of H1N1 influenza in both patients and employees. As of May 28, there have been 28 cases of H1N1 influenza in our patients and staff, of which all but one have occurred in the past two weeks. In this setting of increasing prevalence of H1N1, we have had a number of exposures in the medical center involving patients, staff and physicians. Under the current circumstances, for the ongoing safety of our patients and employees, it is crucial to maintain continued vigilance. For patients presenting with influenza-like symptoms, all staff should consistently apply our current protocols for screening of patients at all ambulatory locations and the Emergency Department, and provide masks to symptomatic patients and visitors. Employees should continue to report to managers all symptoms consistent with influenza-like illness (fever to 100 degrees or higher with either cough or sore throat). These patient/visitor screening algorithms and reporting forms for ill employees, as well as other information for clinicians and managers, are available on this H1N1 (Swine Influenza) Central site using the navigation on the left.
H1N1 (Swine Influenza) Message 10: May 22 Update - What to do if your Child or Other Family Member is Ill
As you have probably heard by now, six schools in the Boston area and several more in the suburbs have closed for as long as a week because of a handful of confirmed cases of H1N1 flu and a large number of students with flu-like symptoms. In addition, there are now 6552 confirmed cases of H1N1 flu in the United States with nine reported deaths. There are 284 confirmed cases in Massachusetts. This raises a question for BIDMC community: what should you do if you are a staff member with patient contact here and the parent of a student at one of these schools? If your child or family member is ill with an influenza-like illness (fever and either cough or sore throat) AND is a student or staff at one of these schools with confirmed H1N1 influenza OR if you live with someone with confirmed H1N1 influenza, BIDMC and city and state public health authorities recommend that you take medication to prevent the development of infection. When taken as directed, this prophylaxis is highly effective against influenza. This will help to protect you from H1N1 influenza and also protect your patients and colleagues.
If you have patient contact at BIDMC and have a household contact with confirmed H1N1 or who has influenza-like symptoms and is a student or staff at one of these schools, please: - Contact your manager or supervisor who will ask you some questions and put you in touch with a physician who can order the medication for you, if indicated.
- If you do not have a supervisor on the weekend/holiday, please call the ACS on call at pager #92465 for further instructions.
- If medication is recommended and you choose not to accept it, you will be asked to report your symptoms at the start of each shift daily for 7 days.
Managers: An algorithm with screening questions and next steps will be available on the H1N1 (Swine Influenza) Central site on May 22.
The growing number of illnesses in the community reminds us that we must still be vigilant about the H1N1 flu. We have now had four confirmed cases of this flu among patients or staff. As a reminder, under BIDMC guidelines, any employee or physician who develops influenza-like illness must contact their manager or supervisor and will be restricted from work for 7 days from symptom onset. As outlined in PM-03, employees must use 24 hours of Earned Time and then may access their Extended Illness bank.
H1N1 (Swine Influenza) Message 9: May 7 Update
BIDMC continues to monitor the H1N1 Flu pandemic, however the Emergency Command center will close as of noon, Thursday, May 7. Employees who have flu-like symptoms and/or questions should contact your manager as a first step. Clinicians and managers with flu process or procedure questions can page the Emergency Management pager number: #33930. If there is a change in the course or status of the H1N1 flu, look for more information about re-opening the Emergency Command Center.
H1N1 (Swine Influenza) Message 8: May 6 Update
BIDMC continues to monitor the H1N1 Flu pandemic. As of 11 a.m. this morning, the CDC reported there are 642 confirmed cases of H1N1 Flu nationwide with two deaths. There are now 45 confirmed cases in Massachusetts (up from 34 on May 5). Multiple cases have been confirmed in the Boston area. At this time, we are not aware of any cases among inpatients at BIDMC.
- Please note: The dedicated testing site for employees on Farr 7 has been closed. Managers should now send employees for testing to the following locations, depending on day and time:
- Employee and Occupational Health Services (EOHS)
M, T, Th, F: 7:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. and W: 7:30 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Lowry Medical Office Building, 6th Floor
- Emergency Department, all other hours
For Clinicians
Please note: BIDMC policies and procedures are continuously updated to reflect CDC guidelines as they are released. Please check the H1N1 Influenza: Information for Clinicians site frequently for updates.
More Information
Continue to visit H1N1 (Swine Influenza) Central on the general tab of the Portal. This site provides information to all employees, clinicians, staff and families and patients. The clinician tab links directly to the H1N1 Influenza: Information for Clinicians site. There are clinical tools, guidelines, general information for ourselves and our families and fact sheets in multiple languages available; as more information becomes available we will post to this site.
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