Pandemic Flu

How You Can Prepare:
Health Care & Pharmacies

An influenza pandemic will place a huge burden on the U.S. health care system. Estimates based on the 1957 and 1968 pandemics suggest that there could be:

• 839,000 to 9,625,000 hospitalizations
• 18 to 42 million outpatient visits
• 20 to 47 million additional illnesses

Estimates based on the more severe 1918 pandemic suggest that substantially more hospitalizations and deaths could occur.

Pre-pandemic planning by healthcare facilities is therefore essential to provide quality, uninterrupted care to ill persons and to prevent further spread of infection. Effective planning and implementation will depend on close collaboration among state and local health departments, community partners, and neighboring and regional health care facilities.

Planning Resources

www.pandemicflu.gov
Department of Health and Human Services. Checklists, toolkits and planning guides for:

• medical offices and clinics
• hospitals
• EMS and medical transportation
• home health
• long term and residential care

OHSHA Pandemic Influenza Preparedness and Response Guidance for Healthcare Workers and Healthcare Employers 

A Pharmacist’s Guide to Pandemic Preparedness 

Page updated May 07, 2008