HOME HEALTH CARE SERVICES PANDEMIC INFLUENZA PLANNING CHECKLIST

Planning for pandemic influenza is critical. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have developed the following checklist to help public and private 

organizations that provide home health care services assess and improve their preparedness for responding to 

pandemic influenza. Home health agencies will likely be called upon to provide care for patients who do not 

require hospitalization for pandemic influenza, or for whom hospitalization is not an option because hospitals have reached their 

capacity to admit patients. These agencies may become overburdened very quickly and shortages of personnel and supplies for 

providing home health care may occur. This checklist is modeled after the one included in the HHS Pandemic Influenza Plan 

(www.hhs.gov/pandemicflu/plan/sup3.html#app2). The list is comprehensive but not complete; each home care agency will 

have unique and unanticipated issues that will need to be addressed as part of a pandemic planning exercise. Also, some items 

on the checklist may not be applicable to a given agency. Collaboration with hospitals, local pandemic planning committees 

and public health agencies will be essential to ensure that the affected population receives needed health care services. Further 

information can be found at www.pandemicflu.gov.

This checklist identifies key areas for pandemic influenza planning. Home health care organizations can use this tool to identify 

the strengths and weaknesses of current planning efforts. Links to websites with information are provided throughout the 

document. However, actively seeking information that is available locally or at the state level will be necessary to complete the 

development of the plan. Also, for some elements of the plan (e.g., education and training programs), information may not be 

immediately available and it will be necessary to monitor selected websites for new and updated information.

1. Structure for planning and decision making. 

Pandemic influenza has been incorporated into emergency management planning for the organization.

A planning committee has been created to specifically address pandemic influenza preparedness.

A person has been assigned responsibility for coordinating preparedness planning (hereafter referred to 

as the pandemic response coordinator) for the practice or organization. (Insert name, title and contact 

information)

Members of the planning committee1 include the following: (Insert name, title and contact information 

for each)

Administration:

Nursing:

Clerical:

Other:

A point of contact has been identified for questions/consultation on infection control (e.g., hospital- or 

state health department-based infection control professional, healthcare epidemiologist). (Insert name, 

title, and contact information) 

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2. Development of a written pandemic influenza plan. 

Copies of relevant sections of the Department of Health and Human Services Pandemic Influenza Plan 

have been obtained. (www.hhs.gov/pandemicflu/plan/)

Copies of available state and/or local pandemic influenza plans have been obtained.

A written plan has been completed or is in progress that includes the elements listed in #3 below.

The plan describes the organizational structure (i.e., lines of authority, function and assignment of 

responsibility) that will be used to operationalize the plan. 

The plan complements2 local response plans in communities served by the home health care agency.

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1. The committee could be very small (e.g., two or three staff members) or very large, depending on the size and needs of the organization. Members of the “group of professional personnel” 

required by CMS as one of the Home Health Agency Conditions of Participation should be included on the planning committee.

2. As communities develop their pandemic response plans, the provision of home health care will be a pivotal concern. Home health care agencies should have input into these plans to ensure there 

are no conflicts between what the agency can provide and what the community expects.
3. Elements of an influenza pandemic plan.

A plan is in place for monitoring for pandemic influenza in the population served. 

 Responsibility has been assigned for monitoring national and state public health advisories (e.g., 

www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/fluactivity.htm) and updating members of the pandemic influenza planning 

committee when cases of pandemic influenza have been reported in United States and in the geographic 

area. (Insert name, title, and contact information) 

 A system has been created to monitor influenza-like illness in patients cared for in the home (i.e., weekly 

or daily number of patients with influenza-like illness). www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/diagnosis/

(Having a system for tracking illness trends during seasonal influenza will ensure that organizations 

can detect stressors that may affect operating capacity, including staffing and supply needs, during a 

pandemic.) 

 A system is in place to report unusual cases of influenza-like illness and influenza-related deaths to local 

health authorities. 

A communication plan has been developed and includes the following information:

 Key public health points of contact for pandemic influenza have been identified.

(Insert name, title, and contact information for each)

 Local health department 

 State health department 

 Local emergency management 

 The organization’s point person for external communication (e.g., with hospitals, nursing homes, health 

departments, social services agencies) has been assigned. (Insert name, title and contact information) 

 A list has been created of healthcare entities and their points of contact (e.g., other home care services 

providers, local hospitals, residential care facilities, social service agencies, emergency medical services 

providers, health centers and rural health facilities, relevant community organizations [including those 

involved with disaster preparedness]) with whom the home care agency anticipates that it will be 

necessary to maintain communication and coordination of care during a pandemic. (Insert location of 

contact list): 

 The pandemic response coordinator has contacted local or regional pandemic influenza planning groups 

to obtain information on communication and coordination of plans.

 The pandemic response coordinator has contacted other home care services providers in the area 

regarding their pandemic influenza planning efforts. (Whenever possible, home care agencies should 

consider joint planning and coordination opportunities.)

An education and training program has been developed to ensure that all personnel understand the 

implications of, and control measures for, pandemic influenza and the current community response 

plan. (For more information on the scope of recommended education and training, see 

www.hhs.gov/pandemicflu/plan/sup3.html#edutrain)

 A person has been designated to coordinate education and training (e.g., identify and facilitate access 

to education and training programs, ensure that home care personnel attend, and maintain a record of 

attendance). (Insert name, title, and contact information): 

 Current and potential sites have been identified for long-distance (e.g., web-based programs offered by 

professional associations or federal agencies) and local (e.g., health department or hospital sponsored 

programs) education of home care personnel. (www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/training/)

 Language and reading-level appropriate materials have been identified on pandemic influenza (e.g., 

available through state and federal public health agencies and professional organizations) and a plan is in 

place for obtaining these materials.

 The education and training program includes information on infection control measures to prevent the 

spread of pandemic influenza, including information on measures home health care personnel should 

apply during home care of patients. (For further information on infection control recommendations for 

home care, see www.hhs.gov/pandemicflu/plan/sup4.html#care)

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3. Most home health agencies will already have a list of healthcare organizations and points of contact that can be used for this purpose.
3. Elements of an influenza pandemic plan. (continued)

Informational materials on pandemic influenza for patients and their families have been identified 

that are language and reading-level appropriate for the population being served and a plan is in 

place to obtain and disseminate these materials. 

 Materials have been identified or developed to guide family members on infection control and care of 

patients with pandemic influenza in the home. www.pandemicflu.gov/plan/tab3.html

 Patients and families are encouraged to maintain a 30-day supply of medications and medical supplies as 

well as a two-week supply of non-perishable food and water.

A plan has been developed for the management of patients during a pandemic, which covers the 

following issues: 

 Plans have been developed to manage patient care during the height of a pandemic to accommodate the 

increased number of patients who will need home care services.

 The scope of services that the agency will provide and those that will be denied or referred to other 

providers has been clearly defined.

 The role and responsibility of the agency regarding distribution of infection control supplies (e.g., masks, 

hand hygiene materials), food, medications, and other necessities in the home to patients and their 

families has been discussed with a local or regional pandemic influenza planning group.

 Plans include decision tools for determining which patients can have altered service schedules based on 

their health conditions, needs, and available resources. 

 Local plans and criteria for the disposition of patients have been discussed with area hospitals and other 

home care agencies. (Hospitals may discharge patients to home and home health care agencies early to 

free-up bed space for critically ill patients.) 

 The plan considers how social service agencies (e.g., Red Cross, Salvation Army) will help meet the 

needs of families in the community (e.g., by providing child- or elder-care meals, shopping services) in 

homes where there are patients with pandemic influenza, particularly where the primary adult support 

person living in the home is ill.

 The plan considers how the agency will maintain a database of clients who require electricallydependent technology-driven care (e.g., ventilators, breathing treatments, suction, pumps, turning 

devices), oxygen, special nutrition requirements, dialysis, etc.

An infection control plan is in place and includes the following:

 An infection control policy for the care of pandemic influenza patients in the home. 

(www.hhs.gov/pandemicflu/plan/sup4.html and www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/infectioncontrol/)

 The policy requires healthcare personnel to use Standard

(www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dhqp/gl_isolation_standard.html and Droplet Precautions (i.e., mask for close 

contact) (www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dhqp/gl_isolation_droplet.html) with symptomatic patients. 

 A list has been developed of supplies (e.g., surgical masks, gloves, alcohol-based hand hygiene products) 

that will be used during home care of patients with pandemic influenza.

An occupational health plan has been developed that includes the following:

 A liberal/non-punitive sick leave policy for managing home care personnel who have symptoms of, or 

documented illness with, pandemic influenza. The policy considers:

• The handling of staff who become ill at work

• When personnel may return to work after recovering from pandemic influenza

• When personnel who are symptomatic, but well enough to work, will be permitted to continue working

 A system for evaluating symptomatic personnel before they report for duty has been developed and 

tested during a non-pandemic (e.g., seasonal) influenza period. 

 Mental health and faith-based resources have been identified that are available to provide counseling to 

personnel during a pandemic. 

 The management of personnel who are at increased risk for influenza complications (e.g., pregnant 

women, immunocompromised healthcare workers) has been addressed by placing them on 

administrative leave or altering their work location 

 Staff have been encouraged to develop their own family care plans for the care of dependent minors 

and seniors in the event community containment measures (e.g., “snow days,” school closures) are 

implemented and for possible illness in adult family members.

 The agency has the ability to monitor influenza vaccination of healthcare personnel.

 Influenza vaccine is offered or made available on an annual basis to healthcare personnel.

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3. Elements of an influenza pandemic plan. (continued)

A vaccine and antiviral use plan has been developed.

 Websites containing current federal and state health department recommendations for the use and 

availability of vaccines and antiviral medications have been identified. 

(www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/vaccination/)

 An estimate has been developed of the number of personnel who would be targeted as first and second 

priority for receipt of pandemic influenza vaccine and antiviral prophylaxis, based on HHS guidance for 

use. (www.hhs.gov/pandemicflu/plan/appendixd.html)

 The potential role of the home health care organization in the distribution of vaccine and antivirals in 

the community has been discussed with the local health department and/or regional pandemic planning 

committee.

Issues related to surge capacity during a pandemic have been addressed.

 A plan is in place for managing a staffing shortage within the organization due to illness in personnel or 

their family members. 

 The minimum number and categories of nursing staff and other professional personnel necessary to 

sustain home care services for a given number of patients or on a day-to-day basis have been determined. 

Cross-training (where applicable) has been implemented.

 Priorities for providing care have been established.

 Contingency staffing plans have been developed for either limiting home care access or recruiting 

temporary personnel during a staffing crisis. 

 Hospitals and other appropriate healthcare service providers have been consulted regarding contingency 

staffing resources.

 Anticipated consumable resource needs (e.g., masks, gloves, hand hygiene products) have been 

estimated.

 A primary plan and contingency plan to address supply shortages have been developed, including 

detailed procedures for acquisition of supplies through normal channels as well as requesting resources 

for replenishing supplies when normal channels have been exhausted.

 Plans include stockpiling at least a week’s supply of resources when there is evidence that the potential 

for pandemic influenza has reached the United States. 

 There is an understanding of the process for requesting and obtaining assets (e.g., personal protective 

equipment, medical supplies) made available through the community’s response plan.

 Information has been obtained on local and regional plans and resources for dealing with mass fatalities 

including removal of the deceased from the home.

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March 1, 2006

Version 5