Edward-Elmhurst Healthcare has released “Five Things You Should Know about Ebola.”
Due to the evolving situation in Texas related to the Ebola virus – and with the safety of you, your family and our staff in the forefront of our minds – Edward-Elmhurst Healthcare is announcing the following information and measures related to its Ebola Plan:
- The Ebola virus is containable. Other hospitals in the U.S., including Emory University Hospital and the University of Nebraska Medical Center, have shown containing the virus can work. With a vigilant, aggressive plan, Edward-Elmhurst is prepared to do the same in the unlikely event we care for a patient with the Ebola virus. To date (Oct. 20, 2014) , no one in Illinois has tested positive for the Ebola virus.
- If you or someone you know is experiencing Ebola symptoms (www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/symptoms/index.html), and has recently traveled to West Africa, the patient should not go to their doctor’s office, but should call the nearest Emergency Room and proceed to that ER. You can minimize your risk of transmitting or contracting other types of infections by washing your hands and avoiding contact with the body fluids of people who are sick.
- Edward and Elmhurst Hospitals will continue to require protective measures for employees that exceed the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control.
- Edward-Elmhurst has activated an emergency plan that requires screening at key entry points at our hospitals and clinics to identify patients at risk for Ebola. These locations include ERs, Immediate Care Centers, Walk-In Clinics and physician offices.
- Our emergency plan includes in-depth training of ER staff, other key caregivers (e.g. Intensive Care nurses) and support staff, who would be responsible for the care of an Ebola patient or a patient suspected of having the Ebola virus.
Your safety, and the safety of Edward-Elmhurst’s experienced healthcare team, is always our #1 priority. While the risk for most people is low, Edward and Elmhurst Hospitals are taking every precaution. Please check www.edward.org and www.emhc.org for the latest updates.
For additional details about the Ebola virus, visit:
- World Health Organization: www.who.int/csr/disease/ebola/en/
- U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/
- Illinois Department of Public Health: www.idph.state.il.us/public/hb/hbebola.htm
- DuPage County Health Department: www.dupagehealth.org/ebolamonitoring
Submitted by Keith Hartenberger, Public Information Officer, Edward-Elmhurst Healthcare / October 20, 2014
