Chapter 9. Educational process. Recommendations and standard operating procedures for intensive care unit and hospital preparations for an influenza epidemic or mass disaster.
OBJECTIVE
To provide recommendations and standard operating procedures (SOPs) for intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital preparations for an influenza pandemic or mass disaster with focus on education of all stakeholders, specifically the emergency executive control groups, ICU staff and staff co-opted to assist with patient management.


METHODS
Based on a literature review and expert opinion, a Delphi process was used to define the essential topics, including staff education.


RESULTS
Key recommendations include: (1) define functional roles and responsibilities of the internal personnel and interface agencies or sectors; (2) determine logistic support and requirements necessary for the effective implementation of the SOPs; (3) determine what is required to maintain the SOPs; (4) recommended training and activities include: (a) personal protection techniques; (b) environmental contamination; (c) medical management; (d) laboratory specimens; (e) alert lists; (f) training of recruited staff; (g) ethical issues; (h) psychosocial issues; (i) dealing with the deceased; (j) policies for restricting visitors; (k) mechanisms for enforcing policies; (5) Training should begin as soon as possible with daily demonstrations followed by supervised practice; (6) identify the staff to participate in training programs, verify that they have participated and evaluate their knowledge subsequently.


CONCLUSIONS
Judicious planning and adoption of protocols for staff education are necessary to optimize outcomes during a pandemic.
Richards
Guy A
GA
Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Hospital, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Sprung
Charles L
CL
D004189:Disaster Planning / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D018562:Disease Transmission, Infectious / Q000517:prevention & control; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards; D006739:Hospital Administration / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D053118:Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D007318:Inservice Training / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D007362:Intensive Care Units / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards; D054527:Mass Casualty Incidents; D016272:Occupational Health; D010564:Personnel, Hospital / Q000193:education* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017751:Safety Management / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards; D014218:Triage; D000078329:Workforce