title: A proposed emergency management program for acute care facilities in response to a highly virulent infectious disease.
abstract: To address the organizational complexities associated with a highly virulent infectious disease (HVID) hazard, such as Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), an acute care facility should institute an emergency management program rooted in the fundamentals of mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery. This program must address all known facets of the care of a patient with HVID, from unannounced arrival to discharge. The implementation of such a program not only serves to mitigate the risks from an unrecognized exposure but also serves to prepare the organization and its staff to provide for a safe response, and ensure a full recovery. Much of this program is based on education, training, and infection control measures along with resourcing for appropriate personal protective equipment which is instrumental in ensuring an organized and safe response of the acute care facility in the service to the community. This emergency management program approach can serve as a model in the care of not only current HVIDs such as EVD but also future presentations in our healthcare setting.
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine, The George Washington University, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC.
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Petinaux
authors.affiliation: Disaster Medicine/EMS Fellow, Department of Emergency Medicine, The George Washington University, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC.
authors.forename: Brandy
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ferguson
authors.affiliation: Infection Prevention Manager, Department of Infection Prevention, The George Washington University Hospital, Washington, DC.
authors.forename: Milena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.affiliation: Infection Preventionist, Infection Prevention Department, The George Washington University Hospital, Washington, DC.
authors.forename: Yeo-Jin
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine, The George Washington University, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC.
authors.forename: Gary
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Little
authors.affiliation: Professor, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, The George Washington University, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Parenti
authors.affiliation: Professor, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, The George Washington University, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC.
authors.forename: Gary
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Simon
mesh_terms: D002959:Civil Defense / Q000193:education* / Q000458:organization & administration; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006268:Health Facilities; D006285:Health Planning / Q000458:organization & administration*; D019142:Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control; D000067393:Personal Protective Equipment