Though an upcoming CMS regulation calls for an “all-hazards” approach to disasters, a pandemic or infectious disease outbreak brings some unique characteristics to the tabletop planning.

More than 5 years after the H1N1 pandemic of 2009, this paper examines the history of pandemics’ impact in the United States and worldwide, their likely impact in the near future, the current state of preparedness of United States hospitals, and special considerations for hospital operations during a pandemic.