Statewide Pandemic Flu Exercise

VHCA (6/27/2008)

The Virginia Department of Health will sponsor an exercise on November 18 -19, 2008 designed to challenge the Commonwealth on issues surrounding the arrival of a flu pandemic. This exercise, FluEx'08, will provide the framework for government agencies and non-governmental organizations (private, not-for profit and volunteer) to participate in an interactive, function-based learning opportunity addressing a pandemic influenza scenario. FluEx'08 will focus on preparation, response and recovery actions and will involve coordination among health, hospital, emergency management, law enforcement and critical infrastructure/key resources compromised by widespread illness, while simultaneously maintaining continuity of government, continuity of private and public sector operations, supply chain management and essential services. 

Long Term Care Facilities: The VDH Emergency Planner for the Health District in which your facility is located is the point of contact to begin planning for this event. If your facility is currently registered on the Virginia Healthcare Emergency Preparedness website, you are also encouraged to contact your Regional Hospital Preparedness Coordinator for more information about participation in the exercise including use of the Emergency Operations section and Long Term Care Facility status reporting page on the Virginia Healthcare Emergency Preparedness website.  Questions about the use of this resource by organizations registered on the site may be directed to Erin Shrader. 

For those Long Term Care facilities not currently registered on the Virginia Healthcare Emergency Preparedness website, we encourage you to do so, as it will enhance your participation in FLUEX 08 and provide a valuable planning and response resource for the future. To register, you may do so directly by clicking here, selecting “Register” on the home page under “Healthcare Provider”.  Follow the instructions on subsequent pages to enroll your facility, and then follow the instructions to register as an individual by “creating an account”.  Alternatively, you may provide your registration information (with contact data to include phone, fax, email, and cell phone/pager) by email to kathy.robertson@vhca.org at the Virginia Health Care Association.

Additional information on the planning and conduct of FLUEX 08 will be posted on the Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association website under Training Programs & Exercises/Drills & Exercises/FLUEX 08 as it becomes available.