ED staff will be first to receive smallpox vaccine

According to current plans, emergency department (ED) staff will be offered the smallpox vaccination, but important staffing, logistic, and liability issues still are unclear. The need for staff to take off work is a major worry for ED managers. It is unclear who will assume responsibility for disability and liability. There is a concern about immunocompromised individuals being exposed to vaccinated staff.     

ED will be first to notice a biological attack

A terrorist attack using biological agents is harder to recognize than a chemical and nuclear incident. Communication with other departments and groups--such as the hospital lab, infectious disease and infection control departments, and state public health agencies--can help identify a biological attack quickly. Be aware of significant patterns in your patient population, such as a large number of patients with flu-like symptoms in the summertime.