Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare > Volume 15, Number 7 > Pp. 368-372

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EDUCATION & PRACTICE Technology

Pandemic influenza planning by videoconference

Ann Marie Kimball ^*, Yuzo Arima ^* , H Matthew French , Carl S Osaki , Rodney Hoff , Soo-Sim Lee , Lisa Schafer , Koji Nabae ^**, Chang Hsun , Pengiran Hishamuddin , Rodney Nelson , Karalee Woody ^***, Jacqueline Brown  and Louis Fox 

^* Department of Epidemiology and Health Services, School of Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington; Community-Oriented Public Health Practice, School of Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington; Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA; REDI Centre, Chromos, Singapore; ^** United Nations System Influenza Coordination, Asia Pacific Regional Hub, Bangkok, Thailand; Centers for Disease Control, Department of Health, Taipei, Taiwan; Disease Control Division, Ministry of Health, Brunei Darussalam; Global Governance Group, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; ^*** UW Technology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington; Pacific Northwest Gigapop/Pacific Wave, Seattle, Washington; Global Technology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA

Correspondence: Yuzo Arima, Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Box 357236, Seattle, WA 98195, USA (Fax: +1 206 616 9415; Email: yuzoa{at}u.washington.edu)

Collaboration between nations and sectors is crucial to improve regional preparedness against pandemic influenza. In 2008, a Virtual Symposium was organized in the Asia-Pacific region by the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Emerging Infections Network (APEC EINet) to discuss pandemic preparedness. The multipoint videoconference lasted approximately 4.5 hours and was attended by 16 APEC members who shared best practices in public-private partnerships for pandemic influenza preparedness planning. Twelve of the 16 APEC members who participated responded to a post-event survey. The overall experience of the event was rated highly. Partnering public health, technology and business communities to discuss best practices in preparedness using videoconferencing may be an effective way to improve regional preparedness. Utilization of videoconferencing on a routine basis should be considered to improve preparedness among APEC members and enhance its usability during a pandemic.

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