Checklist-Long-term care and other residential facilities pandemic influenza planning

Planning for pandemic influenza is critical for ensuring a sustainable healthcare response. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have developed the checklist below to help long-term care and other residential facilities assess and improve their preparedness for responding to pandemic influenza. Based on differences among facilities (e.g., patient/resident characteristics, facility size, scope of services, hospital affiliation), each facility will need to adapt this checklist to meet its unique needs and circumstances. The checklist should be used as one tool in developing a comprehensive pandemic influenza plan. Additional information can be found at www.pandemicflu.gov . Information from state, regional, and local health departments, emergency management agencies/authorities, and trade organizations should be incorporated into the facility's pandemic influenza plan. Comprehensive pandemic influenza planning can also help facilities plan for other emergency situations.

This checklist identifies key areas for pandemic influenza planning. Long-term care and other residential facilities can use this tool to self-assess the strengths and weaknesses of current planning efforts. Links to websites with helpful information are provided throughout this document. However, it will be necessary to actively obtain information from state and local resources to ensure that the facility's plan complements other community and regional planning efforts.