Copyright 2008. Medical Group Management Association. All rights reserved. Name, credentials...

Copyright 2008. Medical Group Management Association. All rights reserved.

Name, credentialsOrganizationDate

Preparing Your Office Practice for Disaster and Emergency Events

Idaho Bioterrorism Awareness and Preparedness Program (IBAPP)Medical Group Management Association (MGMA)

July 22, 2008


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Protecting your facility, physicians, staff, and patients in the event of a natural disaster, contagious disease outbreak, bioterrorist incident, or other emergency


How Can You Prepare?

• Learn how to diagnose and treat patients affected with avian flue or who are exposed to biological agents and toxins

• Train staff how to recognize potential cases• Establish medical practice disaster plan• Include pandemic and bioterrorism in the

medical practice disaster plan• Develop a screening plan to identify and direct

patients with high risk for contagious disease or biological agent exposure


Ten Step Response to Pandemic or Bioterrorism

1. Maintain an index of suspicion2. Protect thyself3. Assess the patient. 4. Decontaminate as appropriate5. Establish a diagnosis6. Render prompt treatment7. Practice good infection control8. Alert the proper authorities9. Assist in in the epidemiologic investigation10.Maintain proficiency


Screening Patients with a High Risk for Contagious Disease or Biological Agent

• If there is a risk of pandemic or biological attack, train receptionists to use a script that can identify patients at risk

• Validate screening by triage nurse or physician• Direct patient to the appropriate health care services

– Monitor symptoms for the scheduled appointment– Come immediately to the doctor’s office– Go directly to a designated health care facility– Call 911 for the Emergency Medical Response

(EMR) system.


Sample Script for Receptionists to Use in Screening PatientsKey questions–Symptoms–Travel–Military service–Mass transit–Public gatherings


Sample Script for Receptionists to Use in Screening Patients

• Fever?• Fatigue?• Sore throat?• Difficulty swallowing?• Nausea?• Vomiting?• Coughing?

• Headache?• Back pain?• Chest pain?• Abdominal pain?• Chills?• Sweats?

How long have you had these symptoms? (Score: Less than week = 2 points, More than a week = 1 point)

What symptoms do you have? (Score 1 point for each symptom)


Sample Script for Receptionists to Use in Screening PatientsHave you traveled outside the United States recently? If yes,

• When did you leave the US?• What countries were you in? (Score 1 point for each country)

• When did you return? (Score: Less than a week=2 points, More than week=1 point)


Sample Script for Receptionists to Use in Screening PatientsAre you currently, or have you been in the

military? If yes,• Were you stationed outside the US? (Score 1)• When were you discharged? (Score: Less

than a month=2 points, More than a month but less than year=1 points)


Sample Script for Receptionists to Use in Screening Patients

Have you recently utilized mass transportation? If yes, (Score: If used all the time or within the past weeks = 2 points, otherwise 1 point)

• Subways?• Buses?• Trains?• Airplanes?Have you attended any large gatherings recently? If yes, (Score 1 point for each positive answer)

• Where?


Sample Script for Receptionists to Use in Screening PatientsA score in the range of eight (8) or more might indicate that a patient may be at risk of exposure to a contagious disease or biological agent and should be referred to a physician or triage nurse who can better assess the situation and direct the patient to come immediately to the doctor’s office, to a designated health care facility, or to instruct the patient to call 911 and notify the Emergency Medical Response (EMR) system.

If the patient is asked to come to the physician’s office, upon arrival they should be isolated immediately.

Walk-in patients also should be asked the appointment triage questions at the front desk and isolated from public areas based on the scoring.


David N. Gans, FACMPEVice President, Practice Management Resources

Medical Group Management Association104 Inverness Terrace East, Englewood, CO 80112

877.275.6462 ext. [email protected]

Copyright 2008. Medical Group Management Association. All rights reserved. Name, credentials...

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