Preparing to Serve: Alleviating the Fear to Care for Patients with Ebola
Rationale/Background:Our local community hospital admitted a patient with suspected Ebola. This patient was transferred to our hospital directly from the airport with signs and symptoms of this virulent disease. After simulated Ebola preparedness meetings in our hospital; nurses still felt unprepared to care for this patient.
Brief description of the undertaking/best practice: Extensive efforts over the last two months have involved a task force with key stakeholders from administration, Infection Prevention/Control, Nursing Leadership, Emergency Medicine, Laboratory services, and Disaster Preparedness. Leadership has been working closely with California Department of Public Health (CDPH), Los Angeles Acute Communicable Disease and Control to gain more insight and knowledge of best practices in EVD management, including training and guidance from The University of Emory and Nebraska.
Outcomes:Currently all high risk health care personnel have been properly trained in donning and doffing of personal protective equipment (PPE), and what to do in the event if a suspect EVD is to arrive in the hospital. If a patient is identified as at risk for Ebola, the patient is isolated in a negative pressure room by staff using recommended PPE, and key stakeholders are notified. Designated Ebola teams, consisting of nurses, laboratory staff, and emergency room physicians have been identified and received extensive training for the care of Ebola inpatients and the fear that nurses might encounter.
Conclusions/Implications: Education and training of EVD and PPE compliance among healthcare personnel is a paramount for ensuring that policies and procedures are understood and practiced and to determine first and foremost if your hospital has the capacity to care for an Ebola patient.