Long before the H1N1 virus made headlines around the world, the Palo Alto Medical Foundation (PAMF) had plans to respond to and care for patients during a pandemic flu outbreak. We have committees and task forces comprised of primary and specialty care doctors and administrators who are dedicated to ensuring PAMF is prepared to care for patients with flu—regardless of whether the flu is seasonal or pandemic.

Our pandemic plan outlines the actions we would take in the event of an outbreak, including:

• monitoring viruses
  
• responding to patients' needs
  
• triaging patients
  
• using vaccines and antiviral drugs
  
• communicating regularly with our patients and the public

We partner with local and county health officials and agencies to ensure an effective and rapid response to a flu pandemic, and receive daily updates from the World Health Organization, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and local health authorities with recommendations for caring for patients and preventing the spread of the flu.

During the recent H1N1 virus outbreak, pandemic planning teams throughout PAMF coordinated details to provide safe and exceptional care to patients despite the fear and confusion the outbreak caused. Kathy Korbholz, a vice president of ancillary operations at PAMF, adds that PAMF followed the incident command team structure used by law enforcement agencies and the armed forces in its pandemic planning efforts, because it provides a proven structure, action plan and defined roles for team members in managing disasters and emergencies.

"Working together and planning response efforts during the H1N1 outbreak provided us with an excellent testing ground for how we will handle future and more serious pandemic flu outbreaks," Korbholz says. "We have a plan and are able to put it into place quickly and efficiently."
Back to top