Avoiding Disaster: The Osteopathic Approach to Flu Pandemic

October 25, 2008

Featured Faculty:
Humayun Chaudhry, D.O., M.S., F.A.C.P.,F.A.C.O.I., F.A.O.D.M.E.,
David V. Condoluci, D.O., F.A.C.O.I., and
Dennis J. Dowling, D.O., F.A.A.O.

Course Fee: $25

Course Description
Every Fall season brings up concerns about influenza. A relatively low impact outbreak can mean 10,000 to 20,000 deaths in the United States plus days lost from work or family by the hundreds of thousands who have 3-5 days of illness. Concerns have been raised as to the possibility of another flu pandemic on the scale of the 1918 Spanish Flu pandemic, known as “The Last Great Plague”, which resulted in the deaths of 500,000 Americans and upwards of 20 million people worldwide. All states and municipalities in the U.S.A. are mandated to develop disaster preparedness plans for such a scenario. However, many of the typical medical interventions, anti-viral medications, hygienic protocols, and vaccinations may prove inadequate given time constraints and viral mutations. Historically, the osteopathic profession has had more to offer in osteopathic manipulative medicine by treating patients to maximize their own innate abilities. Reports in the JAOA in 1919 and 1920 appear to indicate a 1/40th mortality for those treated by osteopathic physicians. The purpose of this program is to prepare physicians to be ready to incorporate these means along with the other accepted interventions as well as train others

Course Objectives:

Physicians will:

Review the osteopathic profession’s interventions and research for infectious diseases
Review and practice osteopathic manipulative technique modalities and protocols to facilitate patient responsiveness and immunity
Review standard protocols for flu pandemic preparedness:

Hygiene
Vaccines
Antiviral medications
Isolation

Be trained to instruct other physicians and healthcare providers in flu preparedness and treatment
Participate in Data collection and technology resources