NORWICH – Although midterm elections have recently been the spotlight of news media, the Chenango County Department of Public Health is keeping the threat of Ebola at the forefront with a plan to deal with the crisis should it enter the area.
Marcas Flindt, Director of the Chenango County Department of Public Health, has been coordinating efforts with UHS Chenango Memorial Hospital, area EMS providers, the New York State Health Department and local law enforcement to have an action plan in place. Despite there being no signs of the Ebola virus in the county, he said the department still hopes for the best but it is planning for the worst.
“We don’t know the possibility of Ebola in the county and therefore, the health department, the hospital and EMS are all preparing if it ever does come about,” Flindt said.
The county’s action plan comes subsequent to orders issued last month by the New York State Commissioner of Health. Those orders outline the steps and procedures that must be adhered to by local health departments and hospitals in anticipation of the Ebola virus.
“We are required to be prepared if a person comes to our clinic with symptoms of Ebola, and to have clinic screening protocols in place,” Flindt said. “Our department has been meeting with key professionals in the area to discuss what we’re going to do if we have a suspect case and how procedures are going to work.”
Flindt explained that if a patient complains of Ebola like symptoms, health professionals begin with questions that help identify the likelihood of the virus. Afterwards, the patient may undergo screening by specially trained staff inside a designated isolation room of the public health clinic area. The department’s even going as far as developing signage in multiple languages for basic communication with non-English speaking patients.
While such protocols are all important, said Flindt, the uniquely mandated role of the county is to trace contacts of the patient.
“It’s a responsibility no one else shares,” he said. “Our department would be solely responsible to interview that person on where they have been and who they have had contact with.”
Likewise, UHS Chenango Memorial Hospital in Norwich is taking extra precautions. According to a spokesperson for the institution, hospital staff started implementing plans and procedures before a mandate was even issued by the NY State Health Department.
“We had already begun working on protocols and acquiring the appropriate recommended personal protective equipment,” said Gina Acee, UHS Chenango Memorial’s Infection Preventionist and Emergency Management Coordinator.
Acee says UHS has assembled a team that includes herself, along with its emergency room manager, medical director, staff educator and clinic general manager to help if Ebola reaches hospital doors.
Each case would differ in respect to how its handled, she added; but the main intent would be to isolate the suspect or confirmed case.
“We have identified all our staff as being potential healthcare workers,” said Acee, noting that many employees have been trained and the hospital is continuing the process of training. “I feel that we’re very prepared. We have developed protocols for all scenarios ... We have evaluated all aspects, such as if someone who might be infected walks into one of our clinics, our ER, or is transported by EMS.”
UHS Chenango Memorial is continuing collaboration with the County Department of Public Health to address further concerns.
Said Flindt, “The message I want to get out to the public is, yes we are doing something and yes, we are beginning to put procedures in place.”