St. Joseph Regional Health Network, Reading, has extensive Centers for Disease Control-compliant Infection Control precautions in place normally, and those precautions are equally applicable to any patient who, on the slim chance, presents with Ebola virus symptoms at a St. Joseph facility.
While even the thought of this illness can be anxiety producing, it is important to keep in perspective that only a single case of Ebola has been confirmed in the United States. That one case was confirmed in Dallas, TX, and was contracted by a person who had recently returned from a visit with family in West Africa.
St. Joseph has established a very brief point of entry screening which will help determine if infection control precautions are warranted due to suspected Ebola.
The screening consists of being aware of the symptoms which include fever of 101.5 degrees, severe headache, muscle pain, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain or unexplained hemorrhage, and inquiring about the patient’s travel history, with a specific focus on whether travel to W. Africa has incurred in the prior 21 days.
If the patient shows symptoms, combined with travel to W. Africa, they immediately will be placed in isolation and all staff will proceed with normal infection control precautions and protective equipment until Ebola can be either positively confirmed or ruled out. (Ebola symptoms mirror those of other illnesses.) The hospital also will maintain a log book of anyone in contact with the patient and the hospital also can institute visitor restrictions based on the circumstances.
St. Joseph staff also will work with the physician community and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) providers to collaborate on the identification of suspected Ebola patients and coordinate the patient’s proper transport for treatment.
It is important that our healthcare workers remain vigilant in screening and diligent in taking known, effective infection control precautions in the unlikely event that Ebola presents itself in our setting.
