Hospital preparedness and SARS.
On May 23, 2003, Toronto experienced the second phase of a severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) outbreak. Ninety cases were confirmed, and >620 potential cases were managed. More than 9,000 persons had contact with confirmed or potential case-patients; many required quarantine. The main hospital involved during the second outbreak was North York General Hospital. We review this hospital's response to, and management of, this outbreak, including such factors as building preparation and engineering, personnel, departmental workload, policies and documentation, infection control, personal protective equipment, training and education, public health, management and administration, follow-up of SARS patients, and psychological and psychosocial management and research. We also make recommendations for other institutions to prepare for future outbreaks, regardless of their origin.
Loutfy
Mona R
MR
McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. mloutfy@nygh.on.ca
Wallington
Tamara
T
Rutledge
Tim
T
Mederski
Barbara
B
Rose
Keith
K
Kwolek
Sue
S
McRitchie
Donna
D
Ali
Azra
A
Wolff
Bryan
B
White
Diane
D
Glassman
Edward
E
Ofner
Marianna
M
Low
Don E
DE
Berger
Lisa
L
McGeer
Allison
A
Wong
Tom
T
Baron
David
D
Berall
Glenn
G
D002170:Canada; D003140:Communicable Disease Control / Q000379:methods*; D021821:Communicable Diseases, Emerging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy / Q000821:virology; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D006786:Hospitals, Urban; D006801:Humans; D045473:Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus; D045169:Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy / Q000821:virology