In an effort to prepare to care for potential Ebola patients, several hospital systems around the country have begun to hold Ebola "drills" to determine where emergency protocols must be improved, according to a report from Bloomberg News.
The drills can be all-consuming, according to some infection preventionists: "This is my entire job now. It's all I do every day," said Michelle Peninger, system director of infection control at Fairfax, Va.-based Inova Health System.
Drills include teams from all parts of the hospital, including nurses, doctors, environmental services, laboratories and more. The rash of preparations and emergency drills for Ebola nationwide has caused a spike in the purchase of protective equipment, which some fear could lead to a shortage if the equipment is needed for Ebola patient care, according to the article.
While Ebola preparation is important, it's important for hospitals and the public to remember that flu season is also here, according to some experts. That disease infects tens of thousands of people annually and requires resources, time and energy to treat and control, much more than do the few current cases of Ebola in the United States, according to the report.
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Ebola panic sparks nationwide discussion about outbreak capacity