title: Hospital preparedness in Nebraska: a pandemic influenza survey.
abstract: Because hospital response to pandemic influenza is a critical component of preparedness, the authors performed a survey of hospitals in Nebraska to assess pandemic influenza preparedness. An anonymous 15-question survey was sent electronically to all 85 hospitals in Nebraska in November 2008 and 48 hospitals (56.5 percent) responded. A large majority of Nebraska hospitals have a pandemic influenza plan (n = 41/48, 85.4 percent), and have begun stockpiling materials (n = 44/47, 93.6 percent). Most have established contact with local public health (n = 42//47, 89.4 percent), and in fact reported that their communication with public health has improved as a result of pandemic influenza planning (n = 39/46, 84.8 percent). This survey illuminates current progress and areas for potential improvement in pandemic influenza planning by Nebraska hospitals.
authors.affiliation: Center for Biopreparedness Education, Omaha, Nebraska, USA.
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Philip W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D003625:Data Collection; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D006752:Hospital Planning; D006801:Humans; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009329:Nebraska / Q000453:epidemiology