GNYHA is in close communication with the New York State Department of Health (DOH) and the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene on the current flu season. Please see below for important updates for hospitals.
DOH has begun enhanced monitoring of hospitals’ capacity to handle the increased volume of flu patients by launching a survey that includes requests for information on hospital bed capacity, status of hospital surge plans, and other resource capabilities and needs, through the Health Emergency Response Data System (HERDS). Hospital staff who regularly complete HERDS surveys on the DOH Health Commerce System (HCS) website, should access the “Respiratory Illness Hospital Impact – Initial” survey activity on HERDS and respond as soon as possible. Hospitals are expected to respond to the survey by tomorrow (January 17). The HERDS survey will be sent each Monday morning thereafter, with responses expected by the close of business on the following Wednesday. The surveys will continue until DOH determines that they are required less frequently or may be discontinued.