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Boundary Community Hospital training and
preparing for Ebola, just in case |
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November 12, 2014 |
by Michael Meier
Boundary County Public Information Officer
With the current concern and surveillance going
on worldwide regarding patients with the Ebola
virus, you may want to know that our local
hospital is already well into preparations and
close monitoring for individuals who may have
the infection, or who may have been exposed to
the virus.
 Boundary Community Hospital continues those
preparations to be ready for the possible,
though at present unlikely, event of an
individual who has been infected with the Ebola
virus who might potentially seek care at the
Hospital.
The Hospital is monitoring all of the
communications from the Centers for Disease
Control (CDC) regarding screening and care of
Ebola patients. The information from the CDC is
updated almost daily. In addition, the CDC, the
American Hospital Association, and other
organizations continue to provide training
information for hospitals throughout the United
States.
Further, officials at the CDC have pledged that
“Ebola response teams” will travel within hours
to any hospital in the United States with a
confirmed Ebola case.
Boundary Community Hospital and Boundary
Community Clinic have instituted a Patient
Screening Protocol to identify at-risk patients.
Due to the fact that Ebola first presents with
flu-like symptoms, all individuals who present
at the Hospital or Clinic with flu-like symptoms
will be asked to don a mask and sanitize their
hands upon entering the Hospital or Clinic and
to answer a Screening Questionnaire. The
Screening Questionnaire is based on the CDC
guidance.
The staff at both the Hospital, and the Boundary
Community Clinics (Doctors Snyder and Layeux)
are receiving training and practice regarding
the utilization of personal protective equipment
which is required for the care of an individual
who may have Ebola.
Procedures are in place at the Hospital for the
isolation of a suspected Ebola patient at the
Hospital. Also, notification to the CDC and the
Panhandle Health District of any suspected Ebola
patient is included in the procedures.
The goal of both the Hospital and the Clinic is
to identify any at-risk patients as soon as
possible. This will help protect our community
and our staff.
Further information is available online at:
http://panhandlehealthdistrict.org/ebola-2014
and also at:
http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/ |
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