TY - JOUR
T1 - The prospect of using alternative medical care facilities in an influenza pandemic
AU - Lam, Clarence
AU - Waldhorn, Richard
AU - Toner, Eric
AU - Inglesby, Thomas V.
AU - O'Toole, Tara
N1 - Copyright:
Copyright 2008 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2006
Y1 - 2006
N2 - Alternative care facilities (ACFs) have been widely proposed in state, local, and national pandemic preparedness plans as a way to address the expected shortage of available medical facilities during an influenza pandemic. These plans describe many types of ACFs, but their function and roles are unclear and need to be carefully considered because of the limited resources available and the reduced treatment options likely to be provided in a pandemic. Federal and state pandemic plans and the medical literature were reviewed, and models for ACFs being considered were defined and categorized. Applicability of these models to an influenza pandemic was analyzed, and recommendations are offered for future ACF use. ACFs may be best suited to function as primary triage sites, providing limited supportive care, offering alternative isolation locations to influenza patients, and serving as recovery clinics to assist in expediting the discharge of patients from hospitals.
AB - Alternative care facilities (ACFs) have been widely proposed in state, local, and national pandemic preparedness plans as a way to address the expected shortage of available medical facilities during an influenza pandemic. These plans describe many types of ACFs, but their function and roles are unclear and need to be carefully considered because of the limited resources available and the reduced treatment options likely to be provided in a pandemic. Federal and state pandemic plans and the medical literature were reviewed, and models for ACFs being considered were defined and categorized. Applicability of these models to an influenza pandemic was analyzed, and recommendations are offered for future ACF use. ACFs may be best suited to function as primary triage sites, providing limited supportive care, offering alternative isolation locations to influenza patients, and serving as recovery clinics to assist in expediting the discharge of patients from hospitals.
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U2 - 10.1089/bsp.2006.4.384
DO - 10.1089/bsp.2006.4.384
M3 - Article
C2 - 17238822
AN - SCOPUS:33846213113
SN - 1538-7135
VL - 4
SP - 384
EP - 390
JO - Biosecurity and Bioterrorism
JF - Biosecurity and Bioterrorism
IS - 4
ER -