Pandemic Planning
CIGNA's Commitment to Preparedness
and Business Continuity
CIGNA remains committed to ongoing business
continuity planning to better protect our
employees and serve our customers and plan
participants during an emergency situation.
CIGNA has taken a leadership role as a stakeholder
in the planning and development of federal
policies and procedures for a potential flu
pandemic. CIGNA medical directors have been
content reviewers for the International SOS
pandemic protocols and participate as a liaison
member to the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization
Practices. They are also involved in federal
avian influenza pandemic planning as well
as industry-wide planning groups.
Because of the potential loss of life and
disruption to business operations, government
functions, and health care systems, the threat
of a pandemic has become a pressing global
concern. National and international leaders
cite the urgent need for solid planning and
extensive communication.
Employers face the challenge of developing
customized Pandemic Preparedness Plans for
their organizations. For comprehensive information
on Pandemic Preparedness Protocols, CIGNA
recommends consultation with the World Health
Organization, the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention, the United States Pandemic
Preparedness, or International SOS - all
of whom have developed sets of pandemic preparedness
protocols or checklists to assist organizations
in creating a pandemic continuity plan. To
our knowledge, International SOS has the
most comprehensive tool currently available
to help global organizations to design company-specific
plans that are applicable to all international
situations. For more information about Avian
Flu or pandemic preparation, the following
sites may be useful:
World
Health Organization: Avian Influenza
Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention
US
Government Pandemic Preparedness
International
SOS Avian Flu Guide
Overseas
Security Advisory Council
Organization
Resource Counselors (ORC)
Hong
Kong Government: Prevention of Avian
Influenza
We believe that the first step in any enterprise-wide
planning is the formation of an internal
advisory group to develop actions, priorities,
timelines and measures of progress, specific
to the organization. At CIGNA, our Senior
Pandemic Response Committee directs enterprise-wide
planning and continues to closely monitor
this situation. Its focus is working to keep
our employees as healthy and safe as possible
and support our customers and plan participants
in the event of a pandemic influenza.
For more information on CIGNA's enterprise-wide
planning, please visit CIGNA.com.
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