McDonough District Hospital Ebola Preparedness

McDonough District Hospital has been preparing facilities and training staff to handle any potential patient who might meet the requirements for Ebola Screening.

Using standards provided by the Center for Disease Control, the Illinois Department of Public Health and the American and Illinois Hospital Associations, MDH has been meeting in planning and working groups to deal with potential Ebola patients, according to Carol Roland-Maguire, RN, infection control.

The emergency department RN's routinely screened for travel outside the country prior to the Ebola outbreak in Africa. However, the RN's now screen all patients during triage specifically for this & other infectious diseases related to travel since the beginning of October. ER also added additional screening questions and signage regarding travel to West Africa at our high traffic entry points to the hospital.

Within the emergency services area a treatment room has been prepared to be an isolation area should staff identify a patient who presents information and symptoms consistent with the potential to be infected with Ebola. A similar isolation room would be available in the acute care wing of the hospital, should holding the patient be required.
It is anticipated MDH would contact appropriate health agencies for guidance as to where a suspected or confirmed Ebola patient would be transported for treatment.

MDH has devoted significant staff training time for preparations and will implement patient screening questions for those who present to the emergency services area.

The hospital has requested additional personal protective equipment for health care workers and has been told by suppliers that shipments to health care organizations are being allocated in accordance with federal guidelines to prevent stockpiling of supplies.

Ebola Resources and Information:

• IDPH Ebola Virus webpage
• CDC Ebola Virus webpage
• AHA Ebola preparedness resources
• IHA Emergency Preparedness and Response webpage