title: A survey of emergency department 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1) surge preparedness--Atlanta, Georgia, July-October 2009.
abstract: During August through September 2009, a surge in emergency department (ED) visits for 2009 pandemic influenza A (pH1N1) illness occurred in Georgia, particularly among children. To understand surge preparedness and capacity, we obtained influenza-like illness (ILI) ED visit data from the Georgia State Electronic Notifiable Disease Surveillance System (SendSS) and conducted a retrospective, Internet-based survey among all 26 metro Atlanta ED managers with reference to the period 1 July-1 October 2009. SendSS detected a marked and progressive increase in mean monthly ILI visits from 1 July-1 October 2009, which more than tripled (from 399 to 2196) for the 2 participating EDs that cared for pediatric patients during this time. ED managers reported patient volume surges, resulting in space and supply limitations, especially at pediatric EDs. Most (92%) of the facilities had current pandemic influenza plans. Pandemic planning can help to ensure preparedness for natural and man-made disasters and for future influenza pandemics.
authors.affiliation: Global Immunization Division, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA. ggi4@cdc.gov
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sugerman
authors.forename: Kelly H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Nadeau
authors.forename: Kathryn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lafond
authors.forename: Wendy
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Cameron
authors.forename: Karl
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Soetebier
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jhung
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Isakov
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Greenwald
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Neil
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schrag
authors.forename: Alicia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fry
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002959:Civil Defense / Q000379:methods*; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005845:Georgia / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D053118:Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy / Q000821:virology; D058873:Pandemics / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires