Local health care workers on alert in case of Ebola threat
NORTH JACKSON — With more people in the U.S. contracting Ebola, local health care workers are on alert just in case. Masks, gloves and goggles are now readily available at facilities like Physicians Quality Care, where doctors say they are following strict guidelines by screening patients more carefully. Anyone with flu-like symptoms must fill out a questionnaire and could be put into isolation. “If there are positive answers, the patient would immediately be isolated,” Dr. Peter Gardner said. “A more in-depth evaluation would then be performed.” Masks with a face shield are now required by the CDC anytime a nurse or doctor enters a room with a patient who has symptoms of Ebola. “At this point, Ebola is not contagious from a respiratory standpoint, but no one wants to take any chances,” Gardner said. According to the CDC, guidelines have been sent to every clinic and hospital in the country to make sure they are prepared if a patient shows up with symptoms. “Every hospital in the country needs to be ready to diagnose Ebola,” CDC Director Tom Frieden said. “That means every doctor, every nurse, every staff person” Gardner said his clinic recently treated a person with suspect symptoms, but they were released after determining Ebola was not a threat. He said his staff was prepared to handle the situation. “One case is too many,” Gardner said. “If you do have one case, those are the recommendations, so you need to have some protection.” Health professionals say if you feel you may have Ebola symptoms and have been to places or around people who could put you at risk, isolate yourself and call a doctor.
