Focus: Infection Control

U.S. readiness for a viral outbreak better, but needs improvement

The U.S. has made progress in preparedness since Ebola


With five U.S. patients contracting the new virus that has killed more than 80 people in China comes the question: Is the United States better prepared for the catastrophic outbreak than it was with Ebola?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that we’re better prepared than we were before, but not nearly as prepared as we need to be, according to an article on The Washington Post website.

The U.S. has made progress in preparedness since the anthrax scare of 2001, the SARS crisis in 2003, the MERS outbreak of 2014 and the Ebola epidemic that ended in 2016, according to experts.

When hospitals were evaluated after the Ebola crisis, 71 percent of administrators considered their facilities unprepared to receive Ebola patients in 2014 — a figure that had dropped to 14 percent by 2017. But any system is only as good as the information fed into it, and little is still known about the new coronavirus.

Read the article.

 



January 31, 2020


Topic Area: Infection Control


Recent Posts

Cleanliness Is a Measurable Outcome

By restoring the distinction between cleaning and cleanliness, managers and staffs can better protect patients from environmental pathogens.


Workplace Safety and the Role of Access Control

Workplace violence and other issues threaten patients, staff and operations, so managers need to rethink security measures and technology.


Henry Ford Hospital Celebrates Construction Milestone for Expansion Project

Crews from BTD, a joint venture created by Barton Malow, Turner Construction and Dixon Construction, are on track to complete the hospital in 2029.


How EVS Leaders Can Support Staff for Better Cleaning

Environmental services is one of the most important departments in healthcare facilities, but it can be a difficult one to manage.


Addressing Infection Prevention Staffing Gaps in Ambulatory and Procedural Care

Traditional models that are based on inpatient bed counts fail to account for the unique demands of ambulatory and procedural settings.


 
 


FREE Newsletter Signup Form

News & Updates | Webcast Alerts
Building Technologies | & More!

 
 
 


All fields are required. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.