Industry experts say stand-alone clinics need to prepare themselves for patients with Ebola-like symptoms, according to an article on the Modern Healthcare website.
If a patient presents with symptoms of Ebola, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) tells providers to isolate the patient in a single room with a private bathroom and with doors to a hallway closed.
If a patient presents with symptoms at a clinic's front desk, they should be placed in the nearest room possible. That could be a bathroom attached to or near the waiting room area, the article said.
Any patient who presents with Ebola symptoms and has traveled to West Africa should trigger an immediate call to emergency authorities and public health officials. Clinics should encourage patients to call before coming in if they think they might have Ebola, so that a staff member do an initial screening over the phone.