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Methodist Healthcare FIRST hospital system to pilot CDC Ebola Microsite to aid in educating U.S. healthcare workers

By North SA Chamber Editor
Posted on by Email to a Friend

methodist hcs logoThe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have reached out to Methodist Healthcare System in San Antonio to be the first hospital system in the U.S. to pilot the CDC’s Ebola Microsite for U.S. health care workers on its health care system’s website www.SAHealth.com .

The only other two entities hosting the microsite are the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).  The microsite is geared at targeting U.S. health care workers on up-to-date Ebola guidelines and recommendations.  This microsite project includes dozens of CDC web pages, a news feed, and a Twitter feed that has been pulled into Methodist Healthcare’s website.

This collaboration with the CDC reinforces Methodist Healthcare’s commitment to the absolute safety of its own health care workers and those in the community it serves.

Though NO cases of the Ebola Virus Disease have been found in San Antonio, Methodist Healthcare is following all recommendations of the Federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Texas Department of State Health Services in the event that they should receive a patient infected with Ebola.

At Methodist Healthcare the safety of patients, staff, volunteers, physicians and visitors is always a top priority as the health care system has a robust infection control system, with a staff trained and prepared to take care of patients with a variety of infectious diseases, including Ebola.  In addition, the System has an epidemiologic emergency policy in place.

Methodist Healthcare’s standard policy is to use universal precautions for every patient, in addition, they have specific practices for Ebola, which include:

  • Isolation of patients with suspected Ebola from contact with unprotected persons
  • Wearing of protective clothing (including masks, gloves, impermeable gowns, and goggles or face shields) by persons who care for Ebola patients
  • Limitation of people who have access to the areas where the Ebola patients would be treated
  • The use of other infection-control measures (such as complete equipment sterilization and routine use of disinfectant)
  • Avoid touching the bodies of patients who have died from Ebola Methodist also has specific practices in place to help identify and manage potential cases.

Methodist also has specific practices in place to help identify and manage potential cases. These include:

  • A screening tool to document contagious respiratory illnesses or fever combined with recent travel outside the U.S.
  • Isolation precautions for patients who exhibit symptoms and have recently traveled to affected areas
  • Use of personal protective equipment by caregivers
  • Rigorous use of effective cleaning and disinfection practices for equipment surfaces, supplies and other items used in providing care for the patient
  • Internal communications among care-givers to limit potential exposure
  • Immediate reporting to our local health departmentThe public is invited to look up the most current news and education pieces on Ebola by visiting Methodist Healthcare’s website at www.SAHealth.com, and by following them on Facebook and Twitter.

About Methodist Healthcare
Methodist Healthcare System of San Antonio (MHS) began as Methodist Hospital, chartered in 1955 by the United Methodist Church.  Since that time, MHS has grown to what is now the largest health care provider in South and Central Texas with 27 facilities, including nine acute care hospitals serving over 90,000 inpatients and 390,000 outpatients annually, expanding its vision of world class health care to San Antonio and 26 surrounding counties.

 

The System’s ownership structure is a 50/50 co-ownership between not-for-profit Methodist Healthcare Ministries (MHM) and for-profit Hospital Corporation of America (HCA). With equal partnership control, MHS assures a dynamic balance in its mission: serving humanity to honor God by providing exceptional and cost-effective healthcare accessible to all.

 

Led by a culture of Methodist Excellence, the over 8,000 staff and volunteers combined with a medical staff of over 2,500, dedicate themselves to continuous quality improvement by committing to live by Methodist Excellence mission,vision and values.

Methodist Healthcare has achieved many awards for clinical excellence and quality outcomes as well innovation and people’s choice awards. Receiving the Texas Award for Performance Excellence in 2014 is a testament to Methodist Healthcare being selected as the most preferred and trusted health care system each and every year.