Charleston, South Carolina – State health officials confirmed their preparedness for Ebola cases and further potentially deadly diseases as they are creating a database of prime health care providers.
The Medical University of South Carolina together with the Greenville Health System (GHS) has agreed to become centers in caring for people who may contract the Ebola virus. Also referred to as EV-D68, the Ebola virus could be fatal, but can be prevented and treated by visiting urgent care clinics or hospitals as soon as possible.
Every hospital and urgent care clinic in the state, both in rural and metropolitan has indicated its preparedness for Ebola cases, saying that each one is ready to determine and isolate suspected patients. South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) director Catherine Templeton said the agency can identify hospitals at trauma level one, who are willing and capable of treating Ebola-infected people.
Thomas Duncan was the very first patient to contract the Ebola virus in the United States, while his two nurses, who provided him with an urgent care near me, came down with the same infection. Since then, health officers have been thriving in assuring the community that the entire nation is well-prepared in managing such threats. Duncan died two days after the Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital sent him home.
Both of Duncan’s nurses were infected and are being taken care of in separate health facilities, officials said. Other people who had contact with Duncan were also under quarantine.
DHEC issued a public health mandate on Thursday, requiring for the creation of a statewide health preparedness network that will facilitate communications with public health contacts. Communications will discuss preventions against the Ebola virus spread, how to avoid imminent threats to the public, as well as to promote early diagnosis and prevent potential outbreak.
Templeton pointed out that although the preparedness for Ebola cases by health care providers have been indicated, these facilities and first responders are being held by different entities, thus, direct communications are impossible.
The public health order will allow DHEC to gather all emails into a single database and require those who receive and need life-saving info to register. The order has just been implemented recently. Additionally, GHS officials said the agency is now ready to help out and provide urgent care.
Chief medical officer Doctor Angelo Sinopoli said the successful management of suspected and confirmed Ebola cases in South Carolina will need a unified, statewide effort, including all health workers, public health agencies, nurses, physicians, and hospitals, who can assure their preparedness for Ebola cases and any other deadly diseases.
