Mitigating and Preparing for H1N1

Frye Regional Medical Center in Hickory, N.C., where I serve as emergency preparedness coordinator, held a press conference regarding the H1N1 flu outbreak on May 1. We did so to educate and reassure the public by explaining the steps we are taking internally and in concert with community public health and health care providers. Though these remarks – which include expert insight from our chief of staff and infectious disease physician – are offered especially to the people of the Hickory Metro area, we hope you may find them of value as we all strive to learn more about mitigating and preparing for the various scenarios that could occur with this outbreak.

The remarks are published in the order in which they were shared at the news conference.

Michael Barrick, Emergency Preparedness Coordinator

Good morning. Frye Regional Medical Center has been closely monitoring the H1N1 flu outbreak for more than a week, as we take very seriously the health and safety of our staff and the people we serve.

For several years, Frye has placed a firm focus on emergency preparedness. As a result, we have a strong team of doctors, clinicians, administrators and support staff in place to respond to various emergencies, including this outbreak. Every day, we are working on our emergency response plans. We have extensive training, drills, analysis and reviews of all of our plans, including those for this outbreak.

However, we wish to take this opportunity to caution the public to remain calm. While this outbreak is serious, this flu is treatable.

There are several steps we have undertaken to prepare for an outbreak in our area. We have been meeting daily with public health officials and other health care providers. We wish to thank the Catawba County Health Department and the North Carolina Department of Public Health for their active, robust response to this development.

Additionally, our team has been meeting daily throughout this week. Medical staff, administrators and clinicians representing various disciplines have participated in these daily meetings to review our plans and to consider contingencies and develop responses for them.

We have already taken several steps in various areas of the hospital to mitigate the impact of the outbreak and to prepare and respond should confirmed cases occur in the Hickory Metro area. We have assessed our inventory of medications and personal protective equipment to ensure supplies are adequate and will continue to do so.

Should you have flu symptoms, which our Chief of Staff will detail momentarily, it is important that you see your family doctor. Should you need to report to our Emergency Department, you may see staff wearing masks, gloves, goggles and gowns. This should not alarm you; rather it should comfort you, as these steps are taken to minimize the risk of spreading the disease.

Frye Regional Medical Center stands ready to serve the people of the Hickory Metro area. Providing them with top-quality healthcare is our objective. Keeping them educated and informed is an important part of that mission.

Kevin R. Clark, D.O., Frye Regional Medical Center Chief of Staff

Good morning. As Chief of Staff of Frye, I take seriously our responsibility to our community – as do all of our employees. Our goal is to provide the level of care that we would expect for any of our family members. Part of that care includes education. So, with a serious disease outbreak facing us, we are taking this opportunity to put this situation in perspective.

There is no doubt this is a serious matter. The World Health Organization would not have placed the Pandemic Alert at its next to highest level if that was not the case. That is why numerous steps are being taken to quickly identify individuals coming to Frye who present with flu symptoms.

We are closely monitoring every patient that enters our emergency department and are taking the proper precautions should a person complain of flu symptoms, which include a fever, lethargy, lack of appetite, and coughing. Additional symptoms could include a runny nose, a sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Also, it is important to remember that we are in the height of the spring allergy season. And, these symptoms could also be signs of an illness that isn’t the flu.

Additionally, it is important to remember that we are still in the annual flu season. So, just because someone complains of the flu or even has the flu, does not mean they have the H1N1 virus. Indeed, it is common for us to diagnose people with the flu this time of year. To date, though, there have been no confirmed cases of the H1N1 flu at Frye.

We simply do not know how this will unfold. It is too early to tell. But whatever the outcome, it is critically important to remember that to date, the disease is treatable. Indeed, we have adequate supplies to treat confirmed cases of the flu, so long as other providers do not prescribe and dispense medicines unnecessarily, causing stockpiles to be depleted. Frye, then, is ready to care for those who seek treatment, but we also wish to emphasize that it is generally best to first visit your family doctor, who is familiar with your medical history.

Our staff’s health is very important to us. They must remain healthy to care for you. So, don’t be alarmed by any protective gear they may be wearing, and please comply with their directions. We deal daily with infectious diseases and do have plans for dealing with an outbreak.

It is important to understand that while we are prepared to provide whatever level of care is needed for this outbreak should it reach the Hickory Metro area, it is also important to remember that should you become ill, you will quite likely be able to recover at home if you follow your doctor’s directions closely.

Grace Auton, M.D., Infectious Disease Physician

Good morning. We are aware that the people of our community are concerned – if not alarmed – by the H1N1 flu outbreak. While people certainly should have a heightened awareness, we do not want them unduly alarmed. So, there are a few details regarding this outbreak I wish to share.

Numerous steps are being taken to track the disease in our county, state, the nation and the world.

Key objectives at the moment include early detection of outbreaks, ensuring rapid intervention, and mitigating further complications. Additionally, teams have been sent to impacted communities, and investigating the causes of the deaths in Mexico is a top priority. The county and state public health agencies are in constant communication with one another, and are in direct contact with the CDC.

Frye Regional Medical Center, through its collaboration with community partners, is aware of vulnerable populations for disease outbreaks. Responding to their needs is part of our preparedness plans.

While the significance of this outbreak should not be underestimated, it is important for the public to understand that hospital and public health workers are monitoring every patient entering our doors.

Most encouraging, there are steps we, as individuals, can take to mitigate the impact of this outbreak upon ourselves, our families, our neighbors, and our communities. First, wash your hands regularly with soap and water, or use alcohol-based sanitizers. Always cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze. Avoid touching your eye, nose or mouth. Try to avoid close contact with sick individuals. If you are a caregiver for a person who is ill, take precautions. There are guidelines on the CDC website. If you are sick, after you are treated, follow the doctor’s directions and stay home.

Every day we practice standard infection prevention procedures to limit the spread of diseases. We are taking seriously the need to be ready. We encourage our neighbors to do so also. In doing so, we can sensibly and calmly prepare for whatever the next weeks and months hold.

Read coverage by the Hickory Daily Record here.

Read coverage by the Newton Observer-News-Enterprise here.

Other key resources:

FAQ on the H1N1 virus
North Carolina Department of Public Health
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
World Health Organization