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Preparations continue for potential pandemic

Posted on | September 15, 2009 | 385 views |

Text of an e-mail sent by Vice President for Human Resources Larry Lewellen to all faculty and staff:
(please click on http://flu.osu.edu for more Ohio State flu-related information).

To: All staff
Subject: Flu Pandemic Preparations
From: Larry Lewellen, Vice President, Human Resources

Autumn is a time of excitement on the Ohio State campus as students return to begin a new academic year, and anticipation builds as the kickoff of another Buckeyes’ football season approaches.

It’s also the beginning of flu season. This year we have to be prepared not only for seasonal flu but for the H1N1 flu as well. While health officials in the CDC and elsewhere have differing opinions on how the H1N1 flu will progress over the next 6 to 12 months, nearly all of them agree on the need to review and update plans for managing a possible pandemic. References to this flu also are changing. H1N1 mirrors the seasonal flu, and because health officials are no longer testing for this strain, we are now referring to it as Influenza-Like Illness (ILI).

Because the health and safety of faculty, staff, and students are the university’s highest priorities, we are putting a comprehensive plan in place to minimize the spread of disease and to care for the university community. A web site has been developed (http://flu.osu.edu) that will provide information about the plan and status updates, as well as up-to-date developments and detailed information, including prevention tips and guidance on when to seek medical care.

Meanwhile, you should know that health officials at Ohio State and the City of Columbus are closely monitoring the spread and mutations of the H1N1 flu. In all our planning, we will follow CDC guidelines and recommendations. In addition:

• Our biggest emphasis will be on prevention through education and vaccination.
• Ohio State will treat all cases of the flu as if they were H1N1.
• Students, faculty, and staff who are ill with influenza-like symptoms should stay home, self isolate and contact their primary health care provider if symptoms worsen.

Given the unique nature of our Medical Center’s work environment, additional information, specific to Medical Center faculty and staff, will be communicated on an ongoing basis from influenzaupdate@osumc.edu.

Staff play a crucial role in the day to day operations of the university, and some may be assigned individual tasks or responsibilities under the university’s comprehensive plan to minimize the spread of disease and to care for the university community. In addition, here are things every staff member should know:

• Child care will remain available to currently enrolled families unless the state/county department of health mandates closure. The Child Care Program may be able to accommodate children of essential personnel needing back-up care because of their own child care closures, however, if we are in a widespread health crisis authorities may advise against it. Families need to make several back-up plans, not count on just one.
• All faculty and staff should prepare themselves and their families by becoming familiar with Individuals and families planning page at Flu.gov and reviewingOhio State’s Work Life Guidance to Prepare for Pandemic Flu or Other Catastrophic Disaster.
• Be aware of your unit’s business continuity plans and the role you play in a recovery situation. Pay special attention to continuity strategies when a large number of staff are unavailable.
• Employees and supervisors should review the individual’s designation as essential, alternate, or standby, and what it means. Employees may have different designations for a pandemic, severe winter weather, significant power outage, etc.
• Employees and supervisors should make concrete plans to enable individuals to work from home in case of pandemic or other disaster and identify what specific work is appropriate if this becomes necessary.
• If the pandemic flu worsens and a university state of emergency is declared, university policies remain in force. Some key policies you should familiarize yourself with are:
  o Disaster Preparedness and University State of Emergency, Policy 6.17
  o Paid Leave Programs, Policy 6.27
  o Unpaid Leave, Policy 6.45
  o Family and Medical Leave, Policy 6.05

I sincerely appreciate your help in disseminating this crucial news.

Questions or concerns can be sent to emergencymanagement@dps.ohio-state.edu

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