Texas Children’s had the opportunity Thursday to show the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention firsthand how prepared we are to handle a suspected Ebola patient.
Members of the CDC “Fast” team, which assesses readiness and provides feedback about any gaps in Ebola preparedness, visited both Main and West campuses. While there, the team met with various Texas Children’s leaders and employees who have been instrumental in putting together the organization’s Ebola readiness plan.
“We welcome CDC’s input and guidance as we develop an Ebola preparedness plan second to none in the nation,” said Texas Children’s Physician-In-Chief Dr. Mark W. Kline, who was chosen by Chief Executive Officer Mark A. Wallace to lead our Ebola planning efforts and to create a model of preparedness here at Texas Children’s.
Kline has convened a core team of medical and administrative leaders to develop, implement and maintain our plans and protocols as the situation continues to evolve. He meets with Wallace daily and his team has been working closely with Infection Control, Nursing, Pathology, Critical Care, Emergency Medicine and Communications.
Texas Children’s started working on its Ebola readiness plan months ago in response to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa. The plan was tested in September when a suspected Ebola case presented at Texas Children’s Hospital West Campus.
Staff handled the case confidently and proficiently, diligently screening the patient, which allowed for immediate isolation as outlined in our protocol for handling suspected cases of Ebola. The patient ended up testing negative for Ebola but positive for malaria.
Texas Children’s continues to screen patients for possible Ebola exposure. The organization also continues to train staff on how to respond to a suspected case of the virus.
“I am confident in our rigorous, ongoing preparation efforts,” Wallace said. “We have a responsibility to our patients to deliver the best possible care at all times, but we also are intensely focused on keeping you – our physicians, staff and employees – safe.”