North Texas gets Ebola treatment, infectious disease containment facility

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Enlargement of the tiny Ebola virions

Korri Kezar

Staff Writer- Dallas Business Journal

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North Texas will be home to one of two state-of-the-art Ebola treatment and infectious disease bio containment facilities, combining the efforts of UT Southwestern Medical Center, Methodist Health System and Parkland Memorial Hospital.

At a Tuesday morning press conference at UT Southwestern, Gov. Rick Perry announced the partnership and a second facility to be located at The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston.

"In the event of another diagnosis this facility will allow us to act quickly to limit the virus' reach and give patients the care they need in an environment where health care workers are specially trained and equipped to deal with the unique requirements of this disease," Perry said Tuesday. "We are fortunate to have such talented and dedicated leaders here in North Texas, and at UTMB Galveston, who are willing to step forward during a time of need."

With the North Texas collaboration, UT Southwestern will contribute expertise of physicians who are experienced in infectious disease, critical care and other specialties, as well as some nursing professionals. Parkland Hospital also will provide personnel, including nurses, pharmacists, respiratory therapists and lab technicians, as well as equipment such as personal protective equipment, IV fluids and laboratory supplies.

The doctors and nurses staffing the ward have had training in similar units, Parkland CEO Dr. Fred Cerise said. Many of the Parkland staffers worked in a facility set up to handle patients after Hurricane Katrina.

Methodist Health System is housing the treatment center on a floor at Methodist Campus for Continuing Care in Richardson, which includes an ICU wing that is suitable for the care of infectious diseases such as Ebola, Perry said. The floor has a self-contained ventilation system, lab, radiation capabilities, places to put on and remove protective gear and waste disposal system.

Korri covers banking, finance and nonprofits for the Dallas Business Journal. Subscribe to our email newsletters.