Ebola is a critical
virus that is affecting people thousands of miles away in West Africa
and its arrived in the United States. Ebola is a severe, often fatal
illness in humans, which is transmitted to people from wild animals.
There are currently no licensed Ebola vaccines but, it does not mean
Ebola patients can't be saved.
If you take care of
your healthcare and hospitals than you can stop to spread this
dangerous Virus. Here are some considerable tips for Hospitals and
Healthcare Facility that should keep in mind when considering its
internal risk management strategy in relation to Ebola and infectious
disease in general.
1. Set up Policies,
Demonstrate Compliance
Establish
an organized, multidisciplinary framework that demonstrates
compliance with best practices and available guidance by putting in
place policies and procedures specific to infection control and
particularly for those who contemplate caring for patients with
potentially highly infectious conditions.
You should keep in
mind various essential factors while considering policies like-
- Care protocols for Ebola suspected,
- Environment care,
- Treatment of infectious waste,
- Transportation of patients,
- Use of isolation rooms and systems,
- Staff follow-up and monitoring post-exposure
2. Educate Staff,
Demonstrate Due Diligence
Staff should be
trained to -
- Identify the signs and symptoms
- Correlating factors in diagnosing Ebola
- Reduce risk of transmission
- Provide necessary clinical care
3. Maintain Vigilance
Maintain vigilance
with the policies and procedures above to ensure staff compliance.
Audit behavior to ensure that best practices that take into account
CDC guidance, as well as real-time experience from those in the
field, are diligently followed, where applicable. Intervene
immediately where any lapse in policy, procedure or process is
identified, and share lessons learned.
4. Cut down Error Risk
Keep attention high
and staff focused to reduce risk of errors. Ensure that the
framework developed and educational efforts are collaborative among
medical staff, nursing staff, and other clinical and non-clinical
team members.
5. Know Your Capacity
Avoid getting in
over your head—identify what your facility can and cannot handle.
Consider a SWOT analysis by evaluating Strengths, Weaknesses,
Opportunities and Threats of both physical and human resources.
Consider also undertaking a process of confirmation and documentation
of facility capabilities to help guide patient care and potential
transport if a suspected case is identified in your facility or
another facility nearby.
6. Address Staff
Concerns
Consider employee
matters. Be prepared to deal with concerns of staff. Support of and
care for staff does not stop at the end of a shift or with the
recovery or demise of a patient with an infectious disease like
Ebola.
The
original article published - mwe
