Pandemic Influenza Preparedness: Emory University and Other Academic Institutions

Walter A. Orenstein, MD, Departments of Medicine and Pediatrics, and Alexander Isakov, MD, MPH, Department of Emergency Medicine, discuss pandemic influenza preparedness planning at Emory University. Dr. Orenstein co-directs a university-wide task force that initiated planning for how Emory would respond to an influenza pandemic. His discussion outlines the formation of six task forces within the planning process: vaccines, antiviral agents, surge capacity, university operations, communications, and infection control. Dr. Isakov, is also a member of the task force to prepare for an influenza pandemic and co-chairs the committee on health-service capacity. He discusses the surge capacity of the American healthcare system as well as aspects of surge planning needed to maintain the continuity of operations within a health system in the face of an influenza pandemic.
(Lecture given on October 11, 2006