Pandemic preparations

The Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing has published resource materials to assist health professionals to prepare contingency plans in the event of a pandemic such as may be occasioned by an outbreak of avian flu.

While most of the impact of such a pandemic would be experienced by medical practitioners and hospitals, there will clearly be implications for dental practices, in terms of both patient interactions and staffing arrangements.

If your dental practice has not yet considered what it would do in the event of a pandemic, add the issue to your next staff meeting agenda, and perhaps assign a staff member responsibility for drafting a practice strategy on the issue - for review and adoption by all staff.

Other useful resources can be found at:

The World Health Organization (WHO) - WHO - Avian Influenza
The World Animal Health Organisation (OIE) - OIE Update on avian influenza H5N1
US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) - CDC - Avian Influenza