One of this project’s objectives is to find and aggregate best practices from around the country. Dr. Marc Roberts a Professor of Economy, Department of Health Policy Management, Harvard University, contacted us with information about his team’s work with Washington State, specifically for vulnerable populations during pandemic flu. They developed “Suggested Guiding Principles for Supporting the Health, Safety, and Security of Aging or Disabled Washingtonians During a Pandemic Influenza Outbreak.” We have quoted and included the guiding principles below. Even though they were written with Washington State as the intended audience, they are broad enough to be adopted by any State with minor tweaking.
Principle #1: Planning for pandemic influenza in Washington State should support the Department of Health, first responders, and all medical professionals to take all appropriate measures to ensure equal access for aging people and people with disabilities by:
- Providing the same range, quality or standard of care or emergency response as provided to other Washingtonians;
- Providing the healthcare and emergency response needed by persons with disabilities specifically because of their disabilities, and services designed to minimize and prevent further disabilities;
- Providing these services and supports as close as possible to people’s own communities, including in rural areas;
- Making an equal effort to secure informed consent from aging people and people with disabilities, as other Washingtonians regarding the provision of treatment;
- Prevent denial of health care, health services, food, fluids on the basis of age, perceived disability, or disability.
Principle #2: Planning a public health, emergency, and medical response to pandemic influenza in Washington State must be comprehensive, community based, and coordinated at the regional level.
Principle #3:Planning for pandemic influenza in Washington State, should recognize that Washingtonians who are aging or who have disabilities, have the right to the highest attainable standard of health without discrimination on the basis of age, perceived disability, or disability.
Principle #4:The aim of planning for pandemic influenza in Washington State should be to keep the health care system functioning and to deliver acceptable quality of care to preserve as many lives as possible.
Principle #5: If those infected by pandemic influenza are facing quarantine, aging people and people with disabilities should be given the same opportunities to preserve the integrity of their family units as other Washingtonians.
Principle #6: To the greatest extent possible Planning for pandemic influenza in Washington State should prioritize the communication of clear information, using accessible modes and formats before, during, and after the outbreak.
Principle #7: To the greatest extent possible aging people and people with disabilities, should not be separated from the support people, adaptive equipment, or working animals which contribute to their ability to follow the instructions necessary to be healthy, safe, and secure.
Although these principles don’t specifically address transportation, principle #2, which mentions comprehensive planning, certainly would include it.
We want to hear from you, does your State or organization have anything similar?
Planning Transportation for Pandemic Flu 