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Table 2 Selected key recommendations*

From: Selection of key recommendations for quality indicators describing good quality outbreak response

Domain

Quality indicator

Scale of the outbreak and epidemiology

The [RESPONSIBLE ORGANISATION] collects data about all cases and contacts of cases for inclusion in the case register of the [RESPONSIBLE ORGANISATION] if the nature and phase of the outbreak are such that the data are relevant to outbreak control

Scale of the outbreak and epidemiology

The [RESPONSIBLE ORGANISATION] reports the data about the index case, the epidemiological situation (number and nature of the contacts, possible source, etc.) to the National Authority in charge of infectious disease control for national surveillance and coordination

Control measures

The [RESPONSIBLE ORGANISATION] is in charge of supplying prophylaxis for the designated groups

Control measures

The [RESPONSIBLE ORGANISATION] informs the supervisory pharmacy about delivery of the prophylactic medication by the [RESPONSIBLE ORGANISATION]. The pharmacist helps set up the medication management system

Control measures

The [RESPONSIBLE ORGANISATION] must register the indications and contraindications of the prophylactic medication by name and national insurance number of the person receiving treatment whenever the [RESPONSIBLE ORGANISATION] provides prophylaxis

Control measures

The [RESPONSIBLE ORGANISATION] informs the supervising pharmacy about any delivery of medicaments by the [RESPONSIBLE ORGANISATION]. The pharmacist helps set up the medication management system

Control measures

The [RESPONSIBLE ORGANISATION] must register the indications and contraindications for the medication for treatment by name and national insurance number of the person receiving treatment when the [RESPONSIBLE ORGANISATION] is in charge of the treatment

Control measures

The [RESPONSIBLE ORGANISATION] vaccinates only the groups with an indication for vaccination in as far as the [RESPONSIBLE ORGANISATION] gives the vaccination

Control measures

The [RESPONSIBLE ORGANISATION] obtains a list of the residents in the outbreak area (the target population) and approaches them whenever this is necessary**

Control measures

The [RESPONSIBLE ORGANISATION] informs the supervisory pharmacy about any vaccine delivery by the [RESPONSIBLE ORGANISATION]. The pharmacist helps set up the medication management system

Control measures

The [RESPONSIBLE ORGANISATION] looks after registering the indications and contraindications for the vaccine by name and national insurance number of the person receiving vaccination whenever the [RESPONSIBLE ORGANISATION] gives the vaccinations

Control measures

The [RESPONSIBLE ORGANISATION] organises quarantine for contacts of cases, people belonging to the risk group, and other healthcare professionals, with adherence to the national guidelines

Control measures

The [RESPONSIBLE ORGANISATION] verifies whether quarantine for contacts of cases, people belonging to the risk group, and other healthcare professionals was carried out with adherence to the national guidelines

Control measures

Within the agreed time span, the [RESPONSIBLE ORGANISATION] must make available a fully equipped quarantine facility that meets the current requirements starting from the moment that the need of such a facility was made known

Control measures

With adherence to the national guidelines, the [RESPONSIBLE ORGANISATION] places cases and people with symptoms in isolation

Control measures

The [RESPONSIBLE ORGANISATION] verifies whether the national guidelines were adhered to when cases and people with symptoms were placed in isolation at home

Control measures

The [RESPONSIBLE ORGANISATION] is in charge of monitoring the medical condition of any suspected case and contacts of cases by telephone and asks the person about his/her symptoms with a view to the causative pathogen. Thus quick action can be taken, should there be any indication that this person has been infected

Control measures

The [RESPONSIBLE ORGANISATION] instructs people exposed to infection to register themselves with the appropriate caretaker if they develop any symptoms (e.g. flu-like symptoms such as fever and conjunctivitis)

Control measures

The [RESPONSIBLE ORGANISATION] ensures that people with symptoms, people belonging to the risk group, contacts of cases, and other healthcare professionals receive instruction about the appropriate measures to prevent infection in consultation with the treating medical practitioner

Control measures

The [RESPONSIBLE ORGANISATION] instructs the general population about the appropriate measures for controlling infection

Control measures

The [RESPONSIBLE ORGANISATION] instructs the carrier how to transport cases in conformance with the national guidelines

Control measures

The [RESPONSIBLE ORGANISATION] instructs its employees to take the prescribed protection measures the way the national guidelines recommend

Control measures

The [RESPONSIBLE ORGANISATION] informs other health care professionals about personal protection measures conforming to the national guidelines

Control measures

The [RESPONSIBLE ORGANISATION] checks whether its employees use the prescribed protection measures the way the national guidelines recommend

Diagnostics

The [RESPONSIBLE ORGANISATION] provides for the correct diagnostics for cases, contacts of cases, people belonging to the risk groups, and people who meet the case definition criteria as determined in the national guidelines

Diagnostics

The [RESPONSIBLE ORGANISATION] makes arrangements with general practitioners (GPs) and the local medical microbiology laboratory for routing the diagnostics

Diagnostics

The [RESPONSIBLE ORGANISATION] takes charge of diagnostics and any additional control measures (conferring with the consultant microbiologist and the GP)

Diagnostics

The [RESPONSIBLE ORGANISATION] confers with the consultant microbiologist of the region in the event of an infectious disease outbreak

Diagnostics

The [RESPONSIBLE ORGANISATION] provides storage of medical materials (e.g. medicines, medical equipment, necessary research materials, and sterile materials) if national instructions to do so are given

Diagnostics

The [RESPONSIBLE ORGANISATION] distributes medical materials if national instructions to do so are given

Diagnostics

The [RESPONSIBLE ORGANISATION] provides triage based on the national criteria whenever there is a medical indication for such triage

Diagnostics

The [RESPONSIBLE ORGANISATION] provides instruction to the medical interagency partners about the triage criteria

Diagnostics

The [RESPONSIBLE ORGANISATION] organises specific areas (high-risk zones) for the transport, assessment, and management of suspected or confirmed cases with adherence to current protocols (this monitoring measure concerns the separation of patient flows)

Logistic support

The [RESPONSIBLE ORGANISATION] has direct access to diagnostic material

Logistic support

The [RESPONSIBLE ORGANISATION] documents where diagnostic materials can be ordered

Logistic support

The [RESPONSIBLE ORGANISATION] continuously has a supply of the necessary materials in stock, in conformance to the criteria, and determines where these materials can be ordered

Logistic support

The [RESPONSIBLE ORGANISATION], the fire department, and the police organise fire safety, security, and traffic flow around mass-meeting sites, in conformance with the mass vaccination plan

Aftercare and conclusion

When the crisis is over, each [RESPONSIBLE ORGANISATION] evaluates the actions that the organisation itself initiated

Aftercare and conclusion

During the outbreak or soon afterwards, the [RESPONSIBLE ORGANISATION] take the initiative to involve all parties concerned in setting up a plan for aftercare

Communication

The [RESPONSIBLE ORGANISATION] provides health education for people with symptoms, people belonging to the risk group, cases, and contacts of cases

Communication

The [RESPONSIBLE ORGANISATION] limits the number of people visiting infected or suspect locations, such as businesses and student homes, as much as possible

Communication

The [RESPONSIBLE ORGANISATION] adheres to the national communication guidelines

Communication

The [RESPONSIBLE ORGANISATION] has a single leader and centrally directed communication during an outbreak

Communication

The [RESPONSIBLE ORGANISATION] posts up-to-date advice, FAQs, and associated hygiene advice on its website (for residents unfamiliar with the local language as well, if relevant) or states where this advice can be found

Logistics

Among themselves, the [RESPONSIBLE ORGANISATIONS] clearly mark out who is responsible for coordinating and carrying out tasks in the context of infectious disease control

Logistics

The [RESPONSIBLE ORGANISATION] records the decision-making process

Logistics

The [RESPONSIBLE ORGANISATION] adheres to the division of tasks between the [RESPONSIBLE ORGANISATION] and the National Authority in charge of infectious disease control

Logistics

The [RESPONSIBLE ORGANISATION] makes and updates a prognosis of bottlenecks on the basis of gaps in care, the attack rate, and the specific pandemic groups

Logistics

The [RESPONSIBLE ORGANISATION] works with adherence to the current procedure strategy

Logistics

The [RESPONSIBLE ORGANISATIONS] inform each other in a timely way about signals and events that may lead to an infectious disease crisis

Upscaling

The [RESPONSIBLE ORGANISATION] appropriately upscales if and when an infectious disease crisis occurs

Upscaling

The Director of Public Health directs and coordinates the elements of the clinical pathway

Upscaling

The [RESPONSIBLE ORGANISATION] makes an appraisal based on complexity (safety partners) and capacities (of the supply chain partners) to scale with adherence to the Coordinated Regional Incident Procedure

Upscaling

The [RESPONSIBLE ORGANISATION] composes a regional multidisciplinary team during a potential outbreak situation

Upscaling

The [RESPONSIBLE ORGANISATION] presents an analysis of expected bottlenecks in regional care to the interagency medical and administrative partners of the multidisciplinary consultation team

Coordination of the chain of outbreak control

The physician in charge of infectious disease control handles communications to external colleagues about field-specific aspects, in as far as the [RESPONSIBLE ORGANISATION] is in charge of communication

Coordination of the chain of outbreak control

The [RESPONSIBLE ORGANISATION] agrees with all parties involved on a contact person for people with symptoms, people belonging to the risk group, cases, contacts of cases, and other healthcare providers

Coordination of the chain of outbreak control

If and when the National Outbreak Management Team has convened, the [RESPONSIBLE ORGANISATION] organises a meeting with the regional crisis centre to discuss the results of the Administrative Coordination Consultation that are made known by the National Authority in charge of infectious disease control

Coordination of the chain of outbreak control

The [RESPONSIBLE ORGANISATIONS] maintain permanent contact with each other

Coordination of the chain of outbreak control

The [RESPONSIBLE ORGANISATION] ensures from the beginning that communication with all parties involved is clear, complete, and timely

Coordination of the chain of outbreak control

In the early stages of an outbreak, the [RESPONSIBLE ORGANISATION] organises a face-to-face consultation with all the care partners. During this consultation, the expectations of each organisation are expressed and the assignment of roles and tasks is determined

Continuity of care

During an infectious disease crisis, the [RESPONSIBLE ORGANISATION] maintains an overview of the current need for care and care capacity

Continuity of care

The [RESPONSIBLE ORGANISATION] consults with local GPs about the coordination of general practice care (24/7)

Continuity of care

In coordination with the local care provider networks (for example GP networks and ambulance networks), the [RESPONSIBLE ORGANISATION] consults with GPs about how long the upscaled organisation of primary care will still suffice and from what time supplemental packages will be necessary to guarantee continuity

Continuity of care

In coordination with the local care provider networks (for example GP networks and ambulance networks), the [RESPONSIBLE ORGANISATION] alerts all healthcare providers regarding continuation of care and advises them to act in conformance with the agreements (e.g. for home care and nursing-and-care settings)

  1. *This table represents the selected set of key recommendations that can be systematically translated into Quality Indicators (QIs). For each key recommendation, the responsible organization(s) should be determined prior to measuring the set.
  2. **In the Netherlands, the municipality can provide public service organisations with the list of residents and the necessary contact details from the Municipal Personal Records Database.