Region K Healthcare Coalition takes part in pandemic flu exercise

ALBANY — The projected impact of a severe flu pandemic in Georgia might result in 2.7 million falling ill, 297,000 hospitalizations and 57,090 deaths. Such a situation would require coordination from various agencies, and having those relationships in place before disaster strikes can be vital.

The Region K Healthcare Coalition participated in a pandemic flu preparedness tabletop exercise at the Merry Acres Event Center on Thursday to prepare for just such a scenario.

Participants included representatives from many disciplines and agencies, including area hospitals, paramedics, schools, mental health agencies, hospice, fire and rescue, private practices, dialysis clinics, nursing homes, health departments, emergency managers, law enforcement, Marine Corps Logistics Base-Albany and state officials.

The participants were asked to describe their infectious disease plans and communication platforms, discuss the implications such a situation would have on the health care system, and what would trigger actions during a pandemic while ascertaining whether their plans adequately address patient surge and/or staffing shortages impacting all of the involved disciplines as emergency rooms are flooded with the sick and resources run short.

What the process is for one county will likely impact one nearby using the same resources. When the lines of communication are open, those on the frontlines know who to call.

“It is important for me to be able to hear what the plans are in surrounding counties,” Dougherty Emergency Management Agency Deputy Director Jenna Wirtz said. “It is great for bringing awareness to resources that are shared.

“This is reinforcing a need for consistent communication — so we are able to work as one.”

Officials said the exercise generated a lot of interest in light of the ongoing seasonal flu epidemic. One of the topics included a discussion of the differences between an epidemic and a pandemic — the former being a widespread outbreak of a disease occurring in a single community, population or region and the latter being a disease for which there is little to no immunity spreading around the world and affecting thousands.

Chuck Winchester, emergency management coordinator at Archbold Medical Center, said the exercise helped him learn how other communities respond and that practicing scenarios helps to better build a response “on a bright sunny day” before crisis strikes.

For instance, he said learning how other hospitals alter their visitation policies during widespread illness can be helpful to Archbold.

“It helps us learn and identify and have that discussion later on,” Winchester said.

The Georgia Department of Public Health flu activity report for the week ending on Feb. 17 showed the proportion of outpatient visits for influenza-like illness that week was 11.9 percent, above the regional baseline of 1.9 percent. The geographic spread of influenza in Georgia was widespread during that week.

In that same timeframe, 98 flu-associated deaths were confirmed — including four pediatric deaths — for the 2017-18 season.

Jennifer Parks