NCJ Number
194354
Date Published
2001
Length
133 pages
Annotation
This guide was developed by the Department of Health Services (DHS) in California to assist hospitals in preparing for a possible bioterrorism event.
Abstract
Reducing the incidence of transmission of infectious agents to staff, patients, and the community will depend on how rapidly victims can be triaged, diagnosed, isolated when necessary, and treated. Early verbal and/or electronic communication with local health departments will be essential in controlling or preventing disease transmission and providing public assurance. This guide should be modified to fit each hospital’s structure, function, and patient population. It should be integrated into the hospital’s existing emergency management plan. Hospitals should also revise existing response plans as information relating to recognizing, diagnosing, treating, and preventing bioterrorism is updated at the Federal and State levels. Section 1 provides an overview of bioterrorism, including the role of various hospital departments, government agency response roles, disease reporting, the systems used to manage emergency response, and working with the media. Section 2 presents detailed information on bioterrorism agents. This section is organized by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Guideline for Isolation Precautions in Hospitals, 1996. Special isolation recommendations have been developed for smallpox and late-stage viral hemorrhagic fevers. The specific section on a bioterrorist disease can be removed and copied in the event it is suspected. The sections on each bioterrorism agent have five subsections: disease overview, quick reference, frequently asked questions, disease screening form, and home care instructions. The section on smallpox contains additional information related to smallpox vaccination and includes smallpox specimen collection, instructions of administering smallpox vaccine, and sample smallpox vaccination consent form. Section 3 contains the attachments to the planning guide, including a Communication Plan with internal and external contact flow contacts, a form for Medical Record review, a chart listing bioterrorism disease syndromes, and a summary listing of text and internet references on bioterrorism.