Code Flu: common-sense steps to the development of an agency pandemic flu plan for home care.
Calling a code is a common way to sound the alarm of an emergency. Many kinds of codes exist: for patients who arrest, for fires, and for babies who have gone missing, to name a few. This article proposes a new code, Code Flu, which will alert staff, patients, cooperating and referring agencies, and members of the community that they are to operate under the preplanned pandemic flu plan. Suggestions for developing a Code Flu plan are outlined.
Martin
Sharon Dezzani
SD
Saint Joseph's College, Standish, Maine 04084, USA. smartin@sjcme.edu
D003140:Communicable Disease Control / Q000458:organization & administration; D021821:Communicable Diseases, Emerging / Q000517:prevention & control; D003142:Communication; D003152:Community Health Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004189:Disaster Planning / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006699:Home Care Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000458:organization & administration*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009740:Nursing Staff / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration; D016134:Organizational Policy; D010343:Patient Admission; D010351:Patient Discharge; D010934:Planning Techniques; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D016730:Program Development / Q000379:methods; D014611:Vaccination