Cambridge Health Alliance steps up Ebola training

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"Ebola virions" posted by Ayacop | cc-licensed http://bizj.us/144saj

Enlargement of the tiny Ebola virions

Jessica Bartlett

Reporter- Boston Business Journal

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Cambridge Health Alliance has responded to the nation's Ebola concerns by sending out a letter to staff detailing new training and drills.

While hospitals throughout the region say they have been on high alert, the memo is among the more detailed plans to date highlighting the level of preparation and training now underway among care providers. The memo was issued Friday, roughly a week after hospital executives and nursing groups said they lacked detailed plans and hadn't been given training on available equipment.

According to the letter from executives at Cambridge Health Alliance, a group of hospitals and clinics in Somerville and Cambridge, emergency department staff are being trained to use personal protective equipment. Staff members trained to use equipment also have been assigned a "buddy" to help remove their equipment "in a safe and methodical manner."

"The equipment provided to the emergency departments exceeds updated Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines," the memo stated.

Staff also will be running drills beginning on Nov. 4 in all three emergency departments. Actors will be used to portray Ebola victims.

"We will work with our partners in Boston to play this scenario out and provide our staff with the necessary tools to manage a patient of this nature," the memo said.

The training also has included methods to deal with an infected patient in Cambridge Hospital's labor and delivery unit. Officials said the unit was at a "heightened risk" because of the greater perceived risk of potential blood and body fluid exposure during labor.

CHA clinics and hospitals have posted signs asking patients and visitors to notify staff of any travel history, staff said.