Managing outbreaks: the technology approach - Dr Jean Challiner, Clinical Solutions
18 February 2009: The recent report by the US House Committee on Homeland Security, entitled Getting Beyond Getting Ready for a Pandemic Influenza has highlighted that the US is “not prepared as a Nation to fully withstand the impact of such a devastating widespread biological event”, and that “Pandemic influenza would destroy the security of our Nation and homeland”. (1) While a number of actions have been taken to prepare for pandemic influenza, many organisations still “lack the sense of urgency and/or funds to continue preparing, or they are stuck endlessly preparing and are not yet ready.” (2)
The threat of Pandemic Influenza is well overdue and needs to be treated with the same sense of urgency and planning afforded to other national security threats, as the consequences can be equally as devastating to both infrastructure and economy. The report openly recognises that the outbreak of Pandemic Influenza can be manageable if effective measures are taken to prepare for outbreaks in advance and a change in presidential leadership presents an opportunity to review and act upon the weaknesses identified in the National Strategy. The new Administration’s pledge to “wield technology’s wonders to raise healthcare’s quality and lower its cost” (3) suggests a new emphasis on the role of computer-based tools to support the public and healthcare professionals.
These tools have a significant role to play in the management of pandemic influenza. In my view, they will take us beyond getting ready to being prepared. Internet tools have the potential to provide ubiquitous advice for the public, empowering them to make decisions about their own health but also linking them to healthcare professionals, who can carry out an appropriate assessment and offer up-to-date and consistent advice and information. This will serve to reduce public anxiety and will in turn help contain the outbreak and minimise risk.
Making available the right tools to support patients and healthcare professionals, as well as ensuring that there is the ability to collect and analyse information gathered, is an essential part of forward planning - and this is where technology can lend a hand.
In an emergency situation traditional access to healthcare is not always an option and in a Pandemic situation healthcare resources that cope at other times will be overwhelmed. Technology can deliver web and telephony based self and/or healthcare professional assessment, direct care, offer up to date advice and guidance and, where appropriate, authorization for receipt of antiviral medicine treatment without the need for people to leave their homes. Technology can also be used in a ‘command centre environment’ to help monitor the situation in real-time with the facility to rapidly change and update the instructions given out by websites and call operators who are in direct communication with the public and to exchange information with other agencies who may need to respond. Internet tools drive a more efficient management of resources and alleviate unnecessary pressure on emergency and primary healthcare services leaving them to respond to those who need them most.
In an environment where savvy and engaged citizens are increasingly looking to the Internet to assess their symptoms and seek health information, I believe that a familiarity with using technology for this purpose will make these interventions accessible and acceptable to a broad section of the public who might otherwise struggle to access the care and advice they need. Unprecedented health and security incidents are, by their nature, unpredictable and we must be prepared for every eventuality and be ready to use new ways and means of managing the situation.
Whether technology is utilised to streamline symptom assessment or to manage a pandemic outbreak, access to credible health information via the Internet enables government and healthcare organisations to act at the right time and in the right way to health incidents. Preparation is everything – having the tools to react quickly and effectively to these situations can really make the difference between life and death.
