Pandemic Influenza WorkgroupMinutes J. Bogdan thanked everyone for their work to date and expressed how helpful the materials developed by the Workgroup were during the ITTF FluEx exercise. Dave Culp spoke regarding Dr. Whitaker’s vision for this workgroup for the future. Dr. Whitaker worked with J. Bogdan and Mike Chamness to utilize the Illinois Terrorism Task Force (ITTF), Bioterrorism (BT) Committee, as a Pan Flu workgroup as a short term assignment because of the tabletops and the full scale exercise in May. Dr. Whitaker feels now that the exercises are over, the BT Committee needs to get back to its mission. He wants Pan Flu Workgroup to become a separate and distinct workgroup from the ITTF and the BT Committee. There are issues associated with pan flu that are separate and distinct from bioterrorism issues. The Pan Flu workgroup continue meeting and should focus on how best to advise the locals on preparedness issues associated with pan flu specifically. Christina Welter, Chicago Department of Public Health, suggested that we provide the Workgroup with an organizational chart for the ITTF and for the Pan Flu Workgroup. Mary Scott suggested that we put together a list of where we see overlaps between IDPH led groups and ITTF led groups, i.e. volunteerism. IDPH will work on these tasks. Dan Lee, IDPH Office of Health Protection, discussed upcoming local tabletop exercises. IDPH is working more in a consulting role on these exercises. IDPH Office of Preparedness and Response (OPR) has already developed the exercise plan template and distributed to the local health department organizations. IDPH is working with the IL Association of Public Health Association (IAPHA) and the Northern Illinois Public Health Consortium (NIPHC). The exercises being planned for the locals will be similar to the tabletop exercises that were conducted at the state level. Dates are not set yet; however, the target date for completion of the exercises is August 30. IAPHA is planning 7 exercises. NIPHC is still in discussions regarding the number they want to do. Federal funding is being passed down through IDPH to the locals for these exercises. IDPH designed a set of three tabletop exercises that took place this spring. The first exercise, held on March 14, focused on IDPH personnel and IEMA and the Department of Agriculture were also included. May 11 was the second tabletop and included a broader circle of decision makers. May 18 was the final tabletop and included senior advisors in state government, universities, local government, and professional staffers. J. addressed the responsibilities of workgroup members. The most important is that members need to take information back to their organizations and educate them on what the Workgroup is doing and what has been accomplished. If there are issues that your organization has, bring them to the workgroup so that they can be discussed and addressed. Mike Moos has asked that we put together a fact sheet that workgroup members can send out to their organizations and resend past meeting minutes. Tracking of antivirals – Scott Myers with Illinois Pharmaceutical Association indicated they can work on this project with their grant. The antivirals being discussed are those outside the scope of SNS. There are no antivirals in the IL Pharmaceutical Stockpile. The stockpile only contains terrorism related antibiotics. The private sector supply of antivirals is very difficult to get because they are not anxious to share. A Workgroup will be formed to work on this issue – Scott Myers, J. Bogdan, IL Hospital Association, MCHC. School Closings – Jeff Aranowski from the State Board of Education (SBE) will take the lead on this. Schools will be looking to the local health departments (LHD) for advice. During the FluEx, the Cook County Department of Public Health and the Chicago Department of Public Health gave conflicting advice to the schools regarding closures. The SBE does not have the statutory authority to mandate school closings. SBE sent a memo out to schools after the FluEx regarding pan flu and school closures and additional memos will be going out. Mike Moos has requested that a fact sheet be developed regarding who has what authority regarding school closures. A Workgroup will be formed to work on this issue - Jeff, IDPH Legal, Evelyn Lyons, LHDs, school board association and school nurses association and IAPHA and NIPHC. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) – Melissa Naimen from DEMRT provided handouts. Jeff Chudwin asked if ILEAS need to go out and purchase PPE now so they can have some stockpile in case they ever need it? Mike Moos shares similar concerns for fire services. Everyone is in agreement that they want/need recommendations on what to purchase even though we may not have all of the information right now. During FluEx, CMS did research to find PPE and they were having a hard time finding supplies because other states are already purchasing supplies. Dave Culp says we need to have some recommendations out by June 1. A Workgroup will be developed to work on this issue - Melissa Naimen (co-chair with Craig Conover), Jeff Chudwin, Mike Moos, IDPH Legal. Hospital Communications – Requests for assistance needs to go from county emergency management to state emergency management. We need to take a sampling of LHDs and find out if hospitals are following the policies we have put in place. Cook County Department of Public Health (Catherine) says they cannot follow this procedure because of low staffing levels. Dave Culp indicated that this is a NIMS compliance issue. A Workgroup will be developed to work on these issues - Mary Scott (Chair), John Brennan, Brian Churchill, local esdas. Alternate Standards of Care – A workgroup will be formed - Mary Connelly (Chair), John Brennan, Brian Churchill, Tim Conley, Dave Culp, IL Association of Public Health Administrators and the Northern Illinois Public Health Consortium. Bioethics Workgroup – plans to address prioritization of vaccines and antivirals, use of vents and who will get them and terminal triage. Intent is to offer a position paper that will be provided to the full Workgroup. The members of this workgroup will be Craig Conover (Chair), Kelly Armstrong (bioethicist), Russell Burck (bioethicist), John Lantos (bioethicist), Steve Laker (IAPHA), Cathy Grossi (IHA), Pat Finnegan (MCHC), Rebecca Roberts (ED physician), Jeff Chudwin (ILEAS), Jay Reardon (MABAS), Terry Mason (CDPH), Richard Wunderink (ICU physician). Preparedness and Planning Committee – look at after action reports from all of the exercises and pulling out what we need to address and the recommendations. Dan Walsh offered to head up the group. Greg Chance thinks that IDPH needs to address this issue and that a workgroup is not necessary. J. would like to hold off on this for now. Red Cross (Carl Baker) would like Red Cross to be added to the definition of first responder. Red Cross is asked to open shelters and that puts them in the critical category. Summary of Workgroups to be developed:
In order to give the newly formed workgroups a chance to meet and work on their objectives, the next meeting of the full Pan Flu Workgroup will be July 20 from 9:30-12:30. We will meet via video conference. Once sites are secured, the information will be forwarded. |