Trinity Health Well Prepared for H1N1
Response team ensures medications in full supply and precautions taken during flu outbreak
Novi, Michigan (May 1, 2009) - As the probable cases of the influenza A H1N1 virus known as “swine flu” appear in communities across the nation, medical teams and hospital leaders have taken every precaution to contain and prevent its spread.
All caregivers were apprised of infection control policies and HIPAA guidelines on patient privacy, while resource officers and supply chain managers monitored inventories of critical supplies that could be needed in the event of a wider outbreak.
An H1N1 Response Team is sharing updates and health tips via a Swine Flu Response website containing helpful links and resources, which includes access to state and county health departments as well as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“Trinity Health and our acute-care hospitals, urgent care centers and long-term care facilities have been working in a very collaborative way across our national network,” said P. Terrence O’Rourke, MD, Trinity Health Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer. “Sharing expertise and lessons learned with each other helps us assure our communities that our facilities have the plans and resources in place to do our part managing a widespread outbreak.”
“Additionally, our physicians and nurses are skilled at quickly recognizing the symptoms of illness such as the H1N1 virus. When this flu type or any other strain of influenza is suspected, we are following federal, state and local health department guidelines,” he said.
Tips for staying healthy
Recent reports of outbreaks of swine flu are a good reminder to revisit public health advice on everyday actions you can take to help you stay healthy. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provide the following suggestions:
• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it. Influenza is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through coughing or sneezing of infected people.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hands cleaners are also effective.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.
• Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids and eat nutritious foods.
• If you get sick, the CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.
Your physician is always a good source of information should you have personal health concerns. A full directory of Trinity Health physicians is easily accessible online at www.trinity-health.org.
Media contact:
Kevin DiCola, APR
Senior Manager, Corporate Communications & PR
Trinity Health
248-489-6032