FLU PBL

3 LESSONS

• 2014 season
• Virus mutated
• Vaccine wasn't effective
• Increase the number of medications to treat flu/flu symptoms

3 LESSONS CONT.

• 2014 flu season
• 17 year old girl dies a week after flu vaccine due to flu virus
• Learned that the teenage population is more vulnerable than expected
• Have teens come back into office if any complications arise or have scheduled appointments during the flu season to check on the individual

3 LESSONS CONT

• January 2015
• 5 year old girl dies from flu having received a vaccination
• Children are most vulnerable to the flu and proper steps should be taken to help prevent the risk of illness such as: education programs to teach kids how to wash hands, increased pressure by media to get parents to bring children into the doctors office if flu is present
• Teach parents about good hygiene

FLU SYMPTOMS

• Fever
• Cough*
• Sore throat
• Muscle or body aches
• Runny or stuffy nose*
• Vomiting/diarrhea*
• *indicates high risk for transmission

TRANSMISSION

• Up to 6 feet away
• Droplet transmission
• Spread through contaminated surfaces
• Adults spread 1 day before symptoms and 5-7 after illness has set it

TREATMENTS

• Antiviral- tamiflu
• Cough-cough drops or cough medicine
• Congestion-decongestants
• Fever/discomfort-acetaminophen, non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
• Hydration

MITIGATIONS

• Staff vaccinated BEFORE flu season
• Wash your hands or use hand sanitizer-add sanitizing stations in public areas
• Wipe down surfaces with disinfecting wipes-everyone's responsibility
• Masks to be worn by infected-increase the stock of masks
• Staff orientation before and during flu season-proper coughing/sneezing techniques, good health habits, info on vaccinations

COMMUNITY POLICY

• 3 hand sanitizer stations in grocery stores to clean shopping carts before and after use
• Wash hands for 15 seconds with anti-bacterial soap
• Increase awareness for vaccinations and urge businesses and schools to require them
• Disinfect surfaces

INFECTION CONTROL CONT.

• No food or drink in areas possibly contaminated with virus
• Designated areas for clean and dirty supplies
• Cover your mouth with elbow when sneezing or coughing
• Do not use sanitizing liquids when hands are visibly soiled
• Inform citizens not to touch their face as often

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FLU SEASON

• To hold staff meetings led by divisional supervisors to inform employees of the flu and in preparation for a lager patient load
• Teach employees proper hand washing and cough covering techniques to prevent further transmission
• Keep staff aware of the lack of vaccines and aware of the increased risk of illness
• If staff runs a fever they should not report in for work and notify the hospital they will be absent.

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FLU CONT.

• Expect and prepare for increased number of flu ridden patients
• With the lack of vaccines available more patients will most likely be infected
• Increase the amount of staff that's on call or hire more staff
• Increase the amount of stocked masks and treatments for flu symptoms
• Staff vaccinations before the flu season
• Make contract with linen company to wash scrubs

POSSIBLE CONCERNS

• What is the expected recovery time for patients and facility?
• Patients: 1-2 weeks to recover
• Could this effect patients emotionally?
• Yes, it could cause stress from inability to work or depression due to restrictions

POSSIBLE CONCERNS CONT.

• Facility: after vaccines become available we can recover emotionally/physically
• Take time to recover from increased financial costs
• To recover from costs the hospital can require insurance to help cover the costs of the visits

ANTICIPATED CONCERNS CONT.

• How much will this cost?
• Masks- about 19 cents a mask
• Name brand antivirals-about $100 for 5 days
• Name brand symptom treatments- about $8 a bottle
• How can we help with costs?
• Being cost conscious by buying generic brands like oseltamouror instead of Tamiflu

CITATIONS

• Www.cdc.gov
• www.theguardian.com
• www.CNN.com
• www.abcnews.com
• www.flu.gov