North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit News Release ******************** Area representatives responsible for setting up Flu Assessment Centres during a Pandemic, recently completed a mock exercise to test the process of setting up and running a
North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit News Release
********************
Area representatives responsible for setting up Flu Assessment Centres during a Pandemic, recently completed a mock exercise to test the process of setting up and running a Flu Assessment Centre. The exercise involved 31 municipalities, OPP, the Health Unit, hospital representatives and Canadore Theatre Arts students who were the “patients”.
“These mock trials are important for everyone,” said OPP Staff Sergeant Rob McDonald. “It shows all the municipalities what processes work well and what changes need to be made to improve them.”
In a pandemic, five Flu Assessment Centres will be set-up only when physician’s offices, hospitals and clinics are overwhelmed by patients with flu symptoms. These centres will assess those with flu symptoms to determine if they need antivirals, treatment, support at home, or should be sent to the hospital. If antivirals are given within 48 hours of the onset of flu symptoms, it can reduce the severity of the flu and shorten the length of time the patient is ill. The Flu Assessment Centres will not set up to do influenza vaccines.
Acting Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Jim Chirico, stated, “This was a great opportunity to test our pandemic plans in a safe environment and make the modifications necessary in the event we have to set up the Flu Assessment Centres.”
To support staffing needs at the Flu Assessment centres, the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit will be continuing a recruitment drive for healthcare professionals on behalf of Flu Assessment Center partners. The five Flu Assessment Centers will be situated in North Bay, West Nipissing, East Nipissing, West Parry Sound and East Parry Sound.
“Health care professionals were previously hired and participated for the trial run of the Flu Assessment Centre,” said Cathy Menzies-Boulé, Manager of Human Resources at the Health Unit. “However, we still need more professionals to ensure all Flu Assessment Centres will have the clinical expertise they need. Any health care professional with patient care skills transferrable into a clinical environment may apply, including registered nurses, RPN’s, physiotherapists, paramedics, midwives, occupational therapists, respiratory therapists, new graduates, or retired health care professionals.”
For more information on recruiting for the Flu Assessment Centre, visit the Employment section online at www.healthunit.biz, or call Wendy Moore, Staffing Coordinator, at (705) 474-1400, ext 2562 or 1-800-563-2808.
