The Flu —
Information for Health Care Providers
On this page:
Clinician Guidance and Resources
- Clinical Description & Lab Diagnosis of Influenza
- Infection Control in Healthcare Facilities
- Influenza Prevention and Control Measures for Long Term Care Facilities
- Information for Health Professionals
- Vermont Resources in Multiple Languages
Testing
The Vermont Department of Health Laboratory performs influenza testing primarily for public health surveillance purposes to document influenza activity in the community.
Influenza RT-PCR testing to confirm influenza and determine type is performed at the Laboratory on Tuesday and Friday of each week, and is available to providers who contribute to the national sentinel surveillance program. If you would like to have RT-PCR testing for influenza available to your practice, please join the sentinel provider program by calling (802) 863-7240.
Guidance for Clinicians on the Use of Rapid Influenza Diagnostic Tests
As part of this guidance resource, CDC created this guide for considering influenza virus diagnostic tests for individual patients
when influenza viruses are circulating in the community.
Antivirals
Infection Control
- Infection Control Measures in Healthcare Facilities (CDC)
- Prevention and Control in Long Term Care Facilities
Influenza Reporting
The law requires that health care providers report disease of public health importance.
Persons who are required to report: health care facilities, health care providers, health maintenance organizations, hospital administrators, laboratory directors, managed care organizations, nurse practitioners, nurses, physician assistants, physicians, school health officials, town health officers.
Cases of reportable diseases should be reported to the Department of Health within 24 hours.
Reportable by medical providers, hospitals, school health officials:
- Pediatric influenza-related deaths
- Institutional outbreaks
Reportable by laboratories:
- Positive viral cultures
- Weekly aggregate # of positive rapid influenza tests
Page updated: December 31, 2012 13:52