H1N1 Preparedness UpdateSeptember 10, 2009

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• Overview of the University of Minnesota Emergency Management System

• Health Emergency Planning and Response/UM Pandemic Influenza Response Plan

• H1N1 Status and Anticipated Activity through Fall and Winter

Emergency Operations Plan

All Hazards Emergency Plan (Basic Plan, 18 Annexes)– Natural disasters– Chemical leaks– Transportation accidents– Laboratory spills – Terrorism

www.dem.umn.edu

Officer of the Day

• Full authority of the President to act in emergencies

• Vice President for University Services is the primary Officer of the Day, 5 back-ups – Chair EMPC, activate for emergencies– Activate the EOC– Authorize activities and expenditures– Long-range recovery planning

Operational Continuity Planning

• University policy since 1997• “All Hazard” general planning• 18 Critical Operating units required to plan• All units encouraged to plan• Key Aspects:

– Ranked essential functions– Essential resources/personnel– Re-allocate– Triage: must do, defer, eliminate

• Pandemic planning is a specialized “stand alone” section of a department’s plan, implemented separately

Health EmergencyPlanning & Response on Campus

• Public Health Annex added in 2003

• Public Health Officer Preparedness and Emergency Response (AVP for Public Health) created in 2003

• AHC Office of Emergency Response created in 2004

Academic Health Center Office of Emergency Response

•Planning •Health Emergency Response•Medical Reserve Corps•Training•Exercises and Drills•Curricular Enhancements and Interdisciplinary Education

Pandemic Influenza Planning on Campus

Pandemic Influenza Exercise (May, 2005)Important education for playersIdentified unique challenges faced on a large urban

campus settingBasis for a comprehensive planning initiative

Pandemic Influenza Planning on Campus

Extensive Assessment and Planning Initiative, 2005 – 2008University of Minnesota Pandemic Influenza Response Plan

Added as an annex to the U of M Emergency Operations Plan (Annex R)

The plan is a useful tool The shared planning experience is essential

Pandemic Influenza Response Plan

Situation Awareness/ Coordination

– Internal and External Coordination

– CommunicationsStudent/Staff/Faculty Health

– Health Services– Housing– Public Health Response– Human Resources

Campus OperationsCampus Operations

Campus InfrastructureCampus Infrastructure

TeachingTeaching

ResearchResearch

Athletics ProgramAthletics Program

Pandemic Influenza Response Plan

Situation Awareness/ Coordination

– Internal and External Coordination

– CommunicationsStudent/Staff/Faculty Health

– Health Services– Housing– Public Health Response– Human Resources

Campus OperationsCampus Operations

Campus InfrastructureCampus Infrastructure

TeachingTeaching

ResearchResearch

Athletics ProgramAthletics Program

Series of checklists by time and severity

Pandemic Influenza Response Team - 75 members

2009 H1N1 Influenza: Response Strategies

• Self-isolation of the ill

• Personal prevention strategies

• Use of N95 respirators for health care workers in close contact with ill persons

• Use of surgical face masks for ill persons

• Vaccination– Seasonal influenza vaccine, H1N1 vaccine

2009 H1N1 Influenza: What if H1N1 becomes more severe?

• Social distancing measures

• Proactive closure of schools

Pandemic Influenza Response Plan

Situation Awareness/ Coordination

– Internal and External Coordination

– CommunicationsStudent/Staff/Faculty Health

– Health Services– Housing– Public Health Response– Human Resources

Campus OperationsCampus Operations

Campus InfrastructureCampus Infrastructure

TeachingTeaching

ResearchResearch

Athletics ProgramAthletics Program

Communications

•Core communications team established with overall coordination provided by URelations

•Central message sent to the entire University system on August 26

•Targeted messages have been sent to students, parents, faculty, and employees

•Dedicated H1N1 space on U of M homepage with link to H1N1 website (http://www.umn.edu/h1n1)

•All messages are housed on H1N1 website

Health Services

•Surge plans for increased numbers of ill patients within the clinic•Use of Nurse Line to answer patient questions without the need for clinic visit•Seasonal influenza vaccination clinics scheduled earlier than normal - Sept 16•Preparations for H1N1 vaccinations•Modified clinic operations to limit transmission

Housing

Residents and parents advised those with “ILI” return home until fever-free for 24 hours.

Those unable to return home asked to self-isolate. Provided surgical masks and means for meal delivery.

Support provided by Health Advocates (HAs) and Community Advisors (CAs) who have special training.

Additional Public Health Measures

•Increasing availability of hand sanitizer in public spaces on campus

•Posters with prevention messages

•Reviewing supplies of personal protective equipment (PPE) for staff in direct contact with ill persons and antivirals for treatment of persons at high risk for complications

•Ensuring that employees who may need to use PPE are properly prepared

Human Resources

•Reinforce the importance for employees to self-isolate at home when they are ill

•Important role of HR professionals

•Draft policy under review

Teaching

•Reinforce the importance for students to self isolate when they are ill

•Temporary suspension of doctor’s note requirement for missed classes due to influenza-like illnesses

•Faculty are encouraged to be flexible this semester, use technology as needed

Summary

Plans…have been enhanced based upon exercises

and experienceThey serve as important guidelines and

checklists (http://www.umn.edu/h1n1) Response Personnel…have been identified and trained in key

response areasMaintain 4 deep redundancy and 24/7 contact

information

Summary

Response Capabilities

Infrastructure is in place to support both internal and external situational awareness

Maintain capacity to rapidly convene teams in response to real-time information

Reality

Plans cannot prevent disruption that may occur. Continued communication most important strategy.

Thank you!