OSCP H1N1 Product Inventory Project

At the OSCP AGM meeting this past weekend, September 11-12th, 2009, a discussion surrounding the possible implications of an H1N1 pandemic, on provincial wide perfusion departments, was brought to the members' attention by Jim’s presentation.

Questions of government funding, steps for preparation by perfusion, problems of resource attainment, and potential staffing issues were brought up by members from the floor and ideas were shared. One concluding recommendation from this discussion was that an H1N1 web based product inventory be set up through the OSCP website. Cyril Serrick suggested that while we are unable to plan for additional stocking at this point, that at least perfusion departments across the province should be able to share the status of their current stock necessary to be able to provide ECMO service to our patients. Steve Ditmore proposed that an online inventory through the OSCP site would eliminate the need for one individual person to check in and update site specific stock numbers. I think this would be a great idea, and furthermore would allow for real-time updates as stock numbers can be changed by hospital sites themselves. In these potential pandemic scenarios, fewer paths of second hand information save not only time, but also translate into more accurate data shared.

I have spoken to my colleague here at KGH, Andy Zajac, who is our OSCP website engine maintainer regarding this idea. He is willing to work on setting up a section of the website on which individual hospital sites are able to log on, maintain and edit their own ECMO product/disposable inventory. Andy will keep us updated as to the steps required to access this page, how to enter the inventory and so on. (See tab at top of page - OHPIP) This will hopefully allow Ontario perfusionists to be able to report our collective ability to provide this service to all Ontario patients requiring ECMO for H1N1, as well as to act as a networked resource for one another, to aid all Ontario perfusion departments, in meeting their commitment for ECMO services.

Anyone with additional ideas, or suggestions as to how this should be done or alterations to the OSCP H1N1 product inventory (OHPIP) project, please feel free to give them! In order to have a starting point prior to funding, stocking and preparation discussions we should aim to invite all department managers and have all inventories submitted to the OHPIP by a specified date. This will depend on the ease of set-up on the OSCP site, but should not be long. If anyone has a deadline to suggest, please let us know.

Thank you so much for opening this important discussion Jim, and to Andy for looking into making this happen. We will all keep in touch with regular updates.

OSCP H1N1 Product Inventory Project (OHPIP) Summary:

1.At the 2009 OSCP AGM it was suggested that a collective product inventory be established.
2.For ease of access, real-time updates, accuracy a web-based inventory was recommended.
3.Andy Zajac our OSCP web engine maintainer is working on the design and implementation of this inventory project.
4.All Ontario perfusion department leaders will be contacted/emailed and invited to participate, and a deadline to submit all numbers determined.
5.Updates will be provided as progress is made through the OSCP website.
6.Suggestions, recommendations and alterations are welcomed and encouraged, this is only a start. :)