Study: Hospitals unprepared for pandemic flu

A new study suggests that while hospitals are bracing themselves for the possibility of a world-wide flu pandemic, few are prepared to cope with such conditions more than a single week. The study, released by the Novation, a contracting services company for VHA, and the University HealthSystem Consortium at this week's annual VHA conference, found that more than half of hospitals surveyed had begun developing pandemic-related disaster plans, particularly plans to get the additional respirators which will be needed to treat the flu. Most had also identified key suppliers and made plans to make sure they got needed supplies. Still, 79 percent of respondents said that they would only be able to continue operating without external resources for seven days or less. Many project that they'd only last one to three days.

To find out more about the study:
- read this Novation press release

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