Report to CDC points to VCU Health Systems as a "good example" of smallpox preparedness

By Joe Kuttenkuler and Pamela DiSalvo Lepley

RICHMOND, Va. – In a report to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Institute of Medicine singles out the Virginia Commonwealth University Health System as "a good example" of an organization that has attained a high level of preparedness without vaccinating its healthcare workers before a smallpox attack.

The report is the fourth in a series of brief reports by the IOM’s Committee on Smallpox Vaccination Program Implementation that provides advice to the CDC on the execution of the national smallpox vaccination program. Earlier reports recommended a focus on preparedness versus the actual number of people vaccinated. The latest report, issued yesterday (Aug. 12), recommends that the CDC provide guidance to assist state public health agencies, emergency medical services, hospitals and other healthcare partners to establish a minimum standard of preparedness for a smallpox attack.

The VCU Health System received national attention when it decided to delay vaccinating its healthcare workers "pre-event" – before an actual smallpox attack – for hospital patient safety considerations. However, the VCU Health System developed a smallpox preparedness plan that included the modification of facilities for the treatment of smallpox victims, comprehensive training on smallpox diagnosis, treatment, and infection control, and measures for the rapid vaccination of hospital staff in a post-event scenario.

The IOM report concludes, "The committee believes that Virginia Commonwealth University Health System’s smallpox preparedness activities provide a good example of how an organization or jurisdiction can be well-prepared to respond to a smallpox attack without necessarily having workers vaccinated pre-event."

"The safety of our patients and our workers always has been our primary concern," said Dr. Sheldon Retchin, VCU Health System CEO and VCU Vice President for Health Sciences. "We are confident that our smallpox policy protects patient and worker safety, and also provides an effective and rapid response in the event of a smallpox attack."

The VCU Health System policy development was spearheaded by two nationally recognized leaders in epidemiology and infectious diseases, Richard P. Wenzel, M.D., M.Sc., chair of internal medicine, VCU School of Medicine, and VCU chief epidemiologist Michael B. Edmond, M.D., MPH.

The IOM committee reports that of an estimated 5,100 acute care hospitals eligible to participate in the smallpox vaccination program, less than half – 2,125 hospitals, have participated.

The full report can be viewed at: http://www.nap.edu/books/NI000429/html/