Colorado Hospital Preparedness Survey—Please Complete ASAP

 

To: Infection preventionists, chief medical officers, and emergency managers From: CDPHE’s HAI/AR Program Pursuant to its authority to monitor the spread of disease related to emergency epidemics as described in Sec. 25-1.5-102(1)(b)(I), C.R.S. and further to conduct disease control investigations in accordance with and subject to Sec. 25-1-122, C.R.S., the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment is asking for your assistance in completing the following survey related to special pathogen preparedness and control.  Hospital Preparedness Survey The survey pertains to a patient with a special pathogen, including viral hemorrhagic fevers (VHFs) such as Ebola Virus Disease, Marburg Virus Disease, or Lassa Fever. Travelers returning from VHF outbreak countries to Colorado might or might not be monitored by public health. If a traveler develops symptoms, they are instructed to call public health; however, this does not always happen before the traveler presents to a health care facility for care. All hospitals need to be prepared to screen, identify, and at least provide initial care for a patient suspected to have a VHF within the scope of the facility’s clinical capabilities. Additionally, facilities need to train staff to follow the “identify, isolate, inform” framework for special pathogens (see VHF Toolkit). Effective July 2024, The Joint Commission introduced Standard IC.07.01.01 which requires hospitals to: 1. implement processes to support preparedness for high-consequence infectious diseases or special pathogens, and 2. develop and implement training and education to assess competencies for staff who will implement special pathogen protocols. Additionally, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) updated guidance for emergency preparedness (Memo QSO-21-15, Appendix Z) in the State Operations Manual in 2021. This updated guidance requires hospitals include emerging infectious diseases such as Ebola Virus Disease in their emergency preparedness plans, as well as engage and coordinate with state and local health departments to address surge needs in their community. The survey will help your organization assess the level of preparedness for a patient with a special pathogen, and will also assist CDPHE in providing guidance to health care providers and systems when a patient needs emergent transfer or transport. There are no wrong answers on this survey. The responses will be securely collected and confidentially maintained by CDPHE staff for preparedness and training use only. Please complete only one survey per hospital. The survey is intended to be completed with assistance from, but not limited to: infection prevention staff, medical directors, clinical nurse managers, house supervisors, laboratory managers, emergency operations managers, environmental services managers, and communications officers. Surveys might be sent to multiple hospital contacts; please coordinate within each facility to ensure only one survey is submitted. Hospital Preparedness Survey If you have any questions or concerns regarding this survey, please contact CDPHE’s Communicable Disease Response Inbox at cdphe_dcphr_diseaseresponse@state.co.us.