In the event that the H1N1 virus creates a surge of patients during the upcoming flu season, it will be critical to protect health care workers from infection, given their central role in treating sick people and lessening the pandemic's overall impact.

This new report from the Institute of Medicine recommends strategies for health care organizations and employees to prepare for the H1N1 virus. These recommendations include wearing fitted N95 respirators to guard against respiratory infection by the virus, and establishing policies for innovative triage processes, handwashing, disinfection, and more. The report also calls for a boost in research to answer questions about how the flu viruses can be spread, and to design and develop better protective equipment that would enhance workers' comfort, safety, and ability to do their jobs.