Updated Thursday, October 30, 2014

Ebola continues to make headlines as our nation, and the world, continues in a state of watchful waiting relative to the spread of Ebola. This stems from the first patient in the United States to be diagnosed with the virus back in September. All of the news coverage, social media and information coming from official, and not so official sources, can be confusing and overwhelming.

Over the past week Speare Memorial Hospital has continued to work with other New Hampshire hospitals, state public health officials (NHDHHS), the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the World Health Organization to review and enhance our readiness to appropriately address the health care needs of a patient suspected to be infected with the Ebola virus, should the need arise.

While we believe it to be unlikely that a patient will present at Speare with Ebola, we must be prepared to ensure the safety of our staff, other patients and the community. Here is how Speare Memorial Hospital is planning to respond:

• Our primary role will be to identify a patient suspected of being infected with Ebola using the screening tool we shared last week (see below).
• Once identified, an Ebola patient will be isolated to await transport to a designated facility.
• Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center will accept patients for longer term care and will coordinate the necessary transport.
• Speare has the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE including gowns, hoods, gloves, etc. ) that meets the new standards issued by the CDC that no skin is exposed when the PPE is being worn.
• It is important to note that the new CDC guidelines for PPE have not been updated because of new ways in which the virus is transmitted, but rather to maximize the protection from the PPE.

Screening for Ebola Symptoms:
Patients coming to the Emergency Department with, or calling any Speare affiliated provider to complain about, flu-like symptoms including:

• a fever of 100.4^○ F  (subjective or greater than or equal to),
• and experiencing headache, weakness, muscle pain, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain or bleeding

will be asked if they:

• have traveled within the last 21 days,
• and if yes, was it to an Ebola-affected area,
• or exposed to a person with Ebola.

Based on responses, should a patient be suspected of being at high-risk for Ebola, emergency responders can take immediate action to isolate the patient and implement standard, contact and droplet precautions.

 For more information about Ebola visit the CDC website:
http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/