Flu is more than a season: What your hospital should do year round
CONTRIBUTOR
Laura Mueller
Essential Insights contributor, healthcare writer
Featured expert
Cynthia Previte
Senior Category Manager, Laboratory Products, Cardinal Health
Sue Champion
Director, Clinical Operations, Cardinal Health
John Kilgour
National VP, Specialty Pharmaceutical Distribution Sales, Cardinal Health
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) has warned that flu season is fast approaching in the United States (peak flu season usually takes place from late November through March) and recommended all individuals six months and older receive a seasonal flu vaccine, ideally before the end of October.
Last year’s flu season started early and high rates of the flu occurred all over the country. Already, reports in the news media of flu have surfaced, with confirmed cases beginning to show up in local communities.
All of this serves as a good reminder to prepare for the upcoming flu season, but it’s important to note that the fight against the flu is really is a year-round process. While it's difficult to predict the severity of any flu season before it occurs, there are concrete steps that health systems can take throughout the year to be better prepared.
What you can do now
Here are some strategies that can help hospitals.
Know which flu diagnostic tests meet the latest requirements. In an effort to improve the performance and sensitivity of Rapid Influenza Diagnostic Tests (RIDTs), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) began to enforce a reclassification of the tests from Class I to Class II devices at the beginning of 2018. That means the tests now have to meet stricter standards set forth by the FDA and be tested yearly against the proposed circulating influenza strains.
“To meet the Class II requirements established by the FDA, the test must meet higher sensitivity and specificity metrics for both Influenza A and Influenza B," said Cynthia Previte, a senior category manager for the infectious disease and point-of-care portfolio in Laboratory Products at Cardinal Health. “The goal of the reclassification was to improve performance and confidence in both positive and negative patient results."
Tests not meeting the Class II requirements can no longer be marketed, sold or distributed, and the FDA has already made some determinations on devices. However, healthcare facilities can use tests not meeting the Class II requirements until their expiration date, but should understand these tests provide reduced sensitivity and specificity, increasing the chance of false negative test results. To learn more about FDA approved kits meeting the new requirements, visit cardinalhealth.com/en/cmp/ext/ac/influenza-testing-platforms.html.
Support workforce health. You can't care for sick patients if your staff is sick too, which is why it's crucial to follow adequate flu protection procedures.
“Staff should keep their scrubs separate from non-work clothes, including washing them separately,” advised Sue Champion, director of Clinical Operations at Cardinal Health. (Download more tips here.)
Champion also recommended hospitals and other facilities follow the CDC's infection control basics, which include precautions such as performing hand hygiene, using personal protective equipment (see if your PPE makes the cut here), and limiting the transport and movement of patients.
Vaccinating employees also helps protect their health and reduce losses in productivity and revenue. During the 2017-2018 flu season, an estimated 18 million employed adults missed four, eight-hour shifts costing employers approximately $15.4 billion.
What you can do year-round
“Flu is more than just a season," said John Kilgour, who oversees the Cardinal Health Flu Vaccine Program. “A comprehensive flu plan means being prepared and staying informed year-round." And one of the best ways to prepare is by pre-booking flu vaccines and supplies so you know your facility will have what it needs when the season does roll around.
Kilgour also offered a month-by-month flu plan that helps health facilities stay on top of the season long before it comes to a head. Here's what he recommended:
January – May: “Even in winter, when flu season is still at its height, it's important to be looking ahead,” Kilgour said. Start learning about what vaccines are being planned for the next year, and place your pre-book order as early as possible.
May – July: Evaluate your pre-book order again considering your health system's needs and make sure you've ordered enough. Now is the time to order more if you'll need it. Kilgour also recommended using this time to “finalize your vaccination strategy and clinic dates."
July – October: This is when the FDA approves and releases a year's flu vaccine, and if you've pre-booked, this is when you'll receive your product. It's also the time to begin giving vaccinations. Continue to evaluate your needs and make sure you've accurately ordered the correct supply.
October – December: “Forecasting for the next pre-book begins by determining the success of the current season and opportunities for improving in the next," Kilgour said. Even if you're still vaccinating, you should also be digging into the data and seeing how successful you were with ordering product and getting your patient population protected.
You can also assess your flu season inventory needs with this checklist.
Although a flu pandemic is relatively rare, proper planning includes preparing for the worst-case scenario. The CDC offers a Hospital Pandemic Influenza Planning Checklist that can help you improve your pandemic preparedness.
You can't predict exactly how each flu season will unfold, but you can control how well you handle it and how prepared you are for the next one. Put a plan into place that effectively allows you to track and evaluate your hospital's flu response so that no matter what the flu season throws at you, you're ready for it.
And if it feels like an endless fight, take solace in the fact that better relief may be coming—early-stage clinical trial testing for a “broadly protective” flu vaccine has started enrolling participants.
Cardinal Health Flu Vaccine Program
Make sure your health system is prepared for the flu year round.