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This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: AJPH.2008.157339v1 99/S2/S301    most recent Submit a response View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Web of Science (1) Google Scholar Articles by Baron, S. Articles by Lipscomb, J. PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Baron, S. Articles by Lipscomb, J. Related Collections Other Health Service Delivery Other Infections Occupational Health Other Race/Ethnicity Other Respiratory Health

Sherry Baron, MD, MPH, Kathleen McPhaul, RN, PhD, MPH, Sally Phillips, RN, PhD, Robyn Gershon, DrPH, MHS and Jane Lipscomb, RN, PhD

Sherry Baron is with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Cincinnati, OH. Kathleen McPhaul and Jane Lipscomb are with the Work and Health Research Center, School of Nursing, University of Maryland, Baltimore. Sally Phillips is with the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD. Robyn Gershon is with the Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY.

Correspondence: Requests for reprints should be sent to Sherry Baron, 4676 Columbia Parkway, MS R-17, Cincinnati, OH 45226 (e-mail: SBaron{at}cdc.gov).

The home health care sector is a critical element in a pandemic influenza emergency response. Roughly 85% of the 1.5 million workers delivering in-home care to 7.6 million clients are low-wage paraprofessionals, mostly women, and disproportionately members of racial and ethnic minorities.

Home health care workers' ability and willingness to respond during a pandemic depends on appropriate communication, training, and adequate protections, including influenza vaccination and respiratory protection. Preparedness planning should also include support for child care and transportation and help home health care workers protect their income and access to health care.

We summarize findings from a national stakeholder meeting, which highlighted the need to integrate home health care employers, workers, community advocates, and labor unions into the planning process.

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