Akron Children’s Hospital ‘hopes for best, plans for worst’

By CHERYL POWELL

AKRON — What happens if 49 critically ill children need ventilators but only 48 are available?

Who would care for patients if 40 percent or more of hospital workers are home sick?

On a recent morning, about a dozen leaders from throughout Akron Children’s Hospital gathered in a hospital meeting room to continue planning for these types of “what-if” scenarios as the region braces for a potential surge of H1N1 influenza cases.

Just as at most hospitals throughout the country, Akron Children’s, which has a branch in Boardman, has developed a pandemic-flu plan to deal with the possible influx of patients with complications from the H1N1 flu virus, also known as the swine flu.

The questions are particularly pressing, however, for pediatric hospitals, which expect to bear much of the burden if the swine flu becomes widespread and more severe.

Unlike the typical seasonal flu, children and young adults have been more susceptible to this new strain of influenza than the elderly.

No one knows for sure how bad it will get, said Lorie Lerner, director of safety services for Akron Children’s Hospital.

“We’re definitely going to get an increased number of flu cases,’’ she said. “It’s coming. We just don’t know how long, how bad.”

Her philosophy: “We hope for the best, and we plan for the worst.”

The emergency department already is beginning to see potential signs of problems to come.

Last week, Akron Children’s treated about 200 patients per day in its emergency department, an increase from the 160 to 170 seen on a typical day this time of year, said Dr. Norman Christopher, chairman of the Department of Pediatrics.

ER volume usually doesn’t reach 200 or more a day until the peak respiratory illness months of January or February, he said.

Though flu cases aren’t spiking here yet, more parents likely are bringing their children with fever and other symptoms in for care because of heightened awareness and fear about H1N1 influenza, said Dr. Michael Bird, vice president of medical services.

A pediatric hospital in Austin, Texas, already is reporting it’s treating 400 patients in each ER each day, Lerner said.

“I would predict that at some point, we’re going to do that, too,” she said.

Akron Children’s already has ordered extra supplies to handle potential increased demand.

The federal government also shipped extra body bags to hospitals as a precaution earlier this year after H1N1 flu cases surfaced and a pandemic was declared.