The Northwestern Medicine Healthcare Epidemiology and Infection Prevention (HEIP) team is providing resources and information to ensure front-line clinical staff is prepared for Ebola cases resulting from the outbreak in Central Africa.
Current situation and response
While the overall risk to the United States remains low according to the World Health Organization, public health agencies are closely monitoring the outbreak and maintaining enhanced screening measures for travelers returning from affected regions.
The U.S. is screening travelers at designated airports, including:
Washington-Dulles (IAD)
Houston (IAH)
Atlanta (ATL)
New York (JFK)
Illinoisans who have traveled to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) or neighboring Uganda in the past 21 days are being monitored for symptoms by their local public health department and Illinois Department of Public Health.
How NM is preparing
HEIP recently hosted a town hall for front-line teams focused on the current Ebola outbreak, preparedness activities and available resources.
All NM facilities are designated as Level 4 front-line facilities, which means they are prepared to:
Identify, isolate, inform
Initiate stabilizing medical care
Arrange patient transport to a Special Pathogen Treatment Center
Facilities should be prepared to safely manage a patient for up to 24 hours while transfer arrangements are made.
Local Elite Special Pathogen Treatment Centers:
Rush University Medical Center
Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago
Regional Emerging Special Pathogen Treatment Centers:
Corewell Health (Michigan)
University of Minnesota Medical Center
To support readiness efforts, the HEIP team has developed resources that include:
Clinical response workflows
Documentation requirements
Operational checklists
Escalation and notification guidance
HEIP is also deploying PPE packs to NM emergency departments, Immediate Care Centers and OB triage locations. Updated guidance on PPE donning and doffing procedures is being incorporated into the Ebola Resources site.
Resources Physicians, advanced practice providers and other clinicians are encouraged to review the following resources available through NM Interactive (NM login required):