Maryland-09 NASEMSO Pan Flu Exercise

1. Modifying Your EMD and EMS Response Planfor Pandemic Flu:Lessons Learned from Maryland By Richard Alcorta, MD FACEP State EMS Medical Director MIEMSS

2. The following information is provided courtesy of the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems (MIEMSS)

3. Overview • Overview of Decision points • NHTSA Guidance Documents • Dynamic System Status Score • Modified EMD • Assessing Current Practices and Profiles • On-Scene Protocol

4. Pandemic Influenza Criteria • New influenza virus must emerge for which there is little or no human immunity; • It must infect humans and cause illness; and • It must spread easily and sustainably (continue without interruption) among humans

5. http://www.ems.gov/portal/site/ems/menuitem.5149822b03938f65a8de25f076ac8789/?vgnextoid=839d10d898318110VgnVCM1000002fd17898RCRDhttp://www.ems.gov/portal/site/ems/menuitem.5149822b03938f65a8de25f076ac8789/?vgnextoid=839d10d898318110VgnVCM1000002fd17898RCRD

6. Preparing for Pandemic Influenza: Recommendations for Protocol Development for 9-1-1 Personnel and Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs) • Facilitation of Call Screening • Automated Data Gathering & Surveillance • Protocol Expansion/Modification • Protocol Updates (dynamic) • Triage/Patient classification • Assistance with Priority Dispatch of Limited Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Assistance • Tiered Responses/Altered Responses • Dispatch Protocol Modifications • Secondary Triage (Nursing Hotline)

7. Facilitation of Call Screening • Objective: For purposes of monitoring, surveillance, treatment and the potential of contamination and quarantine, during the influenza pandemic period it will be important for the PSAP to be able to identify callers who are likely afflicted by the pandemic influenza virus and to assign the appropriate resource to help them. This resource may not be a responding EMS unit, but an alternative source of care, such as a nurse assist line or other health care call line.

8. Recommendations for 9-1-1 Public Safety Answering Points (PSAP)http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/guidance_ems.htm • It is important for the PSAPs to question callers to ascertain if there is anyone at the incident location who is possibly afflicted by the swine-origin influenza A (H1N1) virus, to communicate the possible risk to EMS personnel prior to arrival, and to assign the appropriate EMS resources. PSAPs should review existing medical dispatch procedures and coordinate any modifications with their EMS medical director and in coordination with their local department of public health.

9. Recommendations for 9-1-1 Public Safety Answering Points (PSAP)http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/guidance_ems.htm • Interim recommendations:    • PSAP call takers should screen all callers for any symptoms of acute febrile respiratory illness. Callers should be asked if they, or someone at the incident location, has had nasal congestion, cough, fever or other flu-like symptoms. • If the PSAP call taker suspects a caller is noting symptoms of acute febrile respiratory febrile illness, they should make sure any first responders and EMS personnel are aware of the potential for “acute febrile respiratory illness” before the responders arrive on scene.

10. Call to 911 Commercial Protocols questions Dispatch asks questions Protocols Triage questions How EMS Delayed Dispatch EMS Unit Type of response YES Non Transport Immediate NO Other Transport EMS Assess Pt. Return to Dispatch for transport Case Manager (Phone Line) Protocols questions Referral or Transport Protocols Triage questions Refer to Home Care Transport Pt. Private Physician ER Through centralized routing Alternate Care Site Home Health (House Call) In Pt. Out Pt. Waiting Room. Fast Track Acute Care

11. Principles • An appropriate response will need to be dynamic, changing swiftly according to circumstances and local resources. • State EMS agency, working with State Department of Health and local Public Health officers, will provide the EMS Operational Program Medical Director and 911 Center Operational Officer the authorization to activate the Pandemic Flu Modified EMD Plan.

12. Principles • The EMS Operational Program will determine their Dynamic System Status score using the four criteria. • The Pandemic Severity Score and the Current Hospital capacity (which can also be acquired locally) will be provided so the 911 center can modify the EMD unit(s) dispatch criteria.

13. Principles • The Pandemic Flu Modified EMD Plan is to be based on current practices and tiered response by 911 dispatch centers then modified in the event of a declared Pandemic Flu event with authorization for activation. (See criteria below chart.)

14. Dynamic System Status Score A. Pandemic Severity Score B. EMS/Dispatch System Demand for Services C. Reduction of EMS/Dispatch Workforce D. Facility Capacity (Bed availability) Each is scores with a number 1 through 5

15. CDC Pandemic Severity Index

16. WHO Pandemic PHASE • No new influenza virus subtypes have been detected in humans • No new influenza virus subtypes have been detected in humans, However a circulating animal influenza virus subtype poses a substantial risk of human disease • Human infection(s) with a new subtype, but no human to human spread • Small cluster(s) with limited human to human transmission but spread is highly localized • Larger cluster(s) but human to human spread still localized, suggesting that the virus is becoming increasing better adapted to humans but may not yet be fully transmissible • Pandemic phase: increased and sustained transmission in general population

17. Pandemic Severity Score Category 5 (>2.0% lethality & >1,800,000 ill) = 5 points Category 4 = 4 points Category 3 (0.5 to <1.0% lethality & 450,000 to <900,000 ill) = 3 points Category 2 = 2 points Category 1 (<0.1% lethality & <90,000 ill) = 1 points

18. EMS/Dispatch System Demand for Services Critical Increase = 5 points Severe Increase = 4 points Moderate Increase = 3 points Mild Increase = 2 points Standard Operating Mode = 1 points

19. Reduction of EMS/Dispatch Workforce Absentee Rate over 40% = 5 points Absentee Rate 35-40% = 4 points Absentee Rate 25-35% = 3 points Absentee Rate 15-25% = 2 points Absentee Rate 15 or below% = 1 points

20. Facility Capacity (Bed availability) Occupancy exceeds 100% = 5 points Occupancy Rate 98-100% = 4 points Occupancy Rate 95-98% = 3 points Occupancy Rate 90-95% = 2 points Occupancy Rate at 90% or below = 1 points

21. Dynamic System Status Score(DSSS) • 6 -10 points DSSS CATEGORY ONE • 11-15 pointsDSSS CATEGORY TWO • 16-20 pointsDSSS CATEGORY THREE

22. Impact Areas of DSSS • Triage • Treatment • Equipment • Transportation • Destination

24. Call to 911 Commercial Protocols questions Dispatch asks questions Protocols Triage questions How EMS Delayed Dispatch EMS Unit Type of response YES Non Transport Immediate NO Other Transport EMS Assess Pt. Return to Dispatch for transport Case Manager (Phone Line) Protocols questions Referral or Transport Protocols Triage questions Refer to Home Care Transport Pt. Private Physician ER Through centralized routing Alternate Care Site Home Health (House Call) In Pt. Out Pt. Waiting Room. Fast Track Acute Care

25. Triage • Occur both at the 9-1-1 center and on scene • Authorization and Activation of DSSS level of triage and EMS triage (Critical Authorization)

26. DSSS Category One • Determine whether to implement triage and treatment protocols that differentiate between non-infected and potentially infected patients based on CDC case definition.

27. DSSS Category Two • Triage would focus on identifying and reserving immediate treatment for individuals who have a critical need for treatment and are likely to survive. • The goal would be to allocate resources in order to maximize the number of lives saved.

28. DSSS Category Three • Using screening algorithm to ensure only severe get response • Resources assigned to those that can most benefit from EMS response

30. Pandemic Flu Modified EMD Plan • Left column is Classification and matches the Medical Priority Dispatch (MPD) named response profiles • Across the top is the Response Mode: Standard Daily Operations then the DSSS Categories: One, Two and Three

31. How does this apply to each EMS Operational Program? • Must have a defined Standard Daily Operations • The DSSS Category modifies that Standard Daily Operations in a progressively increasing restriction of resource allocation • Each EMS Operational program would apply the DSSS chart and adjust their Classification of response profile so all Dispatchers would have clear direction

32. Cornerstone • For this exercise, the dispatcher’s response profile was based on his understanding and application of the DSSS Category Three.

33. Pandemic Flu EMD Modified Plan

34. Types of Dispatcher Resources • First Responder • Engine Company • Utility • Do they all have AEDs? • BLS Ambulance • ALS • Supervisor • Others?

35. Combination of Resources • First Response + BLS • First Response + ALS • First Response + BLS + ALS Chase • First Response + BLS + ALS • Above Plus Supervisor

36. Current Jurisdictional EMD Profiles • Alpha = ? • Bravo = ? • Charlie = ? • Delta = ? • Echo = ? • Omega =?

37. Case Consistent Responses Profiles • Snake Bite • Chest pain • Sudden Sick • Heart Attack /Cardiac Arrest • Choking • Traffic Accident • Shot in the foot • Underwater • Pandemic Flu

38. Evaluation Tool • Resources Dispatched • No • Disconnect or Refer to Health Department phone line • Yes • Type of Resource (s) • Start point: All units are available for exercise calls but will be consumed and not returned to service before completion of the exercise. • Record the Specific units sent Units specific and Alpha through Omega) • Not testing hot or cold response

39. Goal • With today’s consistent standardized response, MIEMSS compared the Standard response profiles to the Pandemic Flu dispatched resources. • MIEMSS compared center to center for dispatch type to see if the protocol has variable interpretation.

40. EMD and On-Scene • Two Phases ( BOTH DRAFT PROTOCOLS) • Modified Emergency Medical Dispatch • On- Scene Triage

42. Participants Modified EMD Plan • Baltimore County • Caroline County • Charles County • Fredrick County • Harford County • Montgomery County • Prince George’s County • Queen Anne County • Washington County NOTE: (Last year Dorchester and Talbot participated)

43. Implement the Pandemic Flu Emergency Medical Dispatch Modified Plan appropriately • All 911/PSAP centers implemented the Pandemic Flu Emergency Medical Dispatch Modified Plan using the DSSS Category 3 column. • One of the 911/PSAP centers initiated standard daily dispatching of resources, then realized that they would run out of resources. They then implemented the appropriate Pandemic Flu Emergency Medical Dispatch Modified Plan. • All 911/PSAPs received and managed all 50 patient complaint scenarios, and the determinant coding of the scenarios was consistent with national standards.

44. Implement the Pandemic Flu Emergency Medical Dispatch Modified Plan appropriately • Corrected the education of the dispatchers and the briefing provided to the Call Takers during the exercise which was learned from last years exercise. • Jurisdictions with Police units that have AED resources help reduce the depletion of EMS resources for ECHO category patients.

45. Implement the Pandemic Flu Emergency Medical Dispatch Modified Plan appropriately • The 911/PSAP that used its standard daily resource allocation of resources and many of the other smaller Counties stated that they had run out of county resources by the end of the 50 complaints. It was evident that multiple counties even with a modified EMD protocol would not be able to sustain a surge of this magnitude in the face of 40% absenteeism. • All of the smaller and several of the larger Counties ran out of ALS response and transport resources.

46. To determine if there is any change in resource allocation during a pandemic influenza event when compared to standard daily resource allocation. • All of the Counties liberally used the referral to a nursing hotline/case manager or directed patients to an Alternate Care Facility without sending resources for the “lesser severity” patients based on the standard screening MPD protocol algorithm. The use of alternate care centers for referral and a nursing hotline/case manager clearly would reduce the burden on the 911 center.

47. To determine if there is any change in resource allocation during a pandemic influenza event when compared to standard daily resource allocation. • When comparing the three counties that had two separate Call Taking episodes, it was impressive how consistent both operators were in assigning determinate codes. • All 911/PSAP demonstrated consistent reduction in resource allocation per determinant code with the exception of one county who tried to maintain daily operational dispatch until they realized they were going to run out of resources to send.

48. Based on interviews with the Call Takers from the Dispatch centers, they felt that this type of exercise is essential for all dispatchers to go through so that they can change their frame of reference and more rigidly apply the Modified EMD protocol

49. Results • Each center accepted all 50 requests for EMS resources over 75 minutes • The 911 Centers successfully applied the Modified EMD Plan • Several 911 Centers ran out of resources to dispatch and could no longer send resources even with the modified response

50. Actual Responses EMD Profiles • Alpha = No resources sent • Bravo = No resource sent or only First Responder/ BLS ambulance • Charlie = BLS or ALS ambulance • Delta = ALS ambulances until they ran out then BLS ambulance • Echo = AED units *** Dispatchers were very uncomfortable with this limited response