Instructions: Clinicians Screening for Ebola

To: All Providers, UR Medicine
From: Paul Graman, Clinical Director, Infectious Diseases Division, URMC
Date: October 6, 2014

Every physician and other provider in offices, clinics, EDs and hospitals must be on high alert for any patient with possible Ebola virus disease (EVD). We all can learn from the experience with EVD in Dallas. The critical steps are RECOGNIZE, ISOLATE, and COMMUNICATE.

RECOGNIZE:

EVD suspicion = Fever or symptoms AND exposure history in prior 21 days.

1. Any patient with fever or headache, myalgia, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, or unexplained hemorrhage.
2. Ask: have you been in Africa in the past 21 days? If yes, have you been in Liberia, Sierra Leone, or Guinea?
3.  If YES, ISOLATE and COMMUNICATE immediately

ISOLATE:

1. Place mask on patient (until in room)
2. Move to single room, door closed
3. PPE: wear gloves, gown, surgical mask and disposable eye protection
4. When you remove PPE, do so carefully to prevent contamination of hands and mucous membranes
5. Practice meticulous hand hygiene

COMMUNICATE:

1. Notify all members of your clinical team
2. Notify Infection Prevention at your hospital (Strong: 275-7716; Highland: 341-0654) or page