DALLAS -- While nurses working at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas have reported being put in harm's way while treating the first U.S. Ebola patient, Thomas Eric Duncan, hospital officials are firing back -- claiming that CDC guidelines were followed at all times.
READ: Dallas nurses cite sloppy conditions in Ebola care
Hoping to set the record straight on Thursday, Texas Health Resources said the allegations made by National Nurses United about equipment and protocol issues at the hospital are false.
"The assertions do not reflect actual facts learned from the medical record and interactions with clinical caregivers. Our hospital followed the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines and sought additional guidance and clarity," the hospital said.
Here is a list of clarifications released by Texas Health Resources:
- When Thomas Duncan returned to the hospital's Emergency Department, he came via ambulance. He was then moved into a private room and isolated. Staff members wore protective equipment recommended by the CDC.
- All specimens from Duncan were put into closed bags and placed inside a plastic carrier before traveling through a pneumatic system. None of the specimens spilled or leaked.
- During his second visit to the hospital, the tube system wasn't used. All of his specimens that time were triple-bagged and put into a container. Then that container was placed into a closed transport container and carried to a lab. When Duncan was in the MICU, his specimens were hand-carried and sealed. Other labs were done via wireless equipment inside his room.
- Nurses who were interacting with Duncan wore equipment that was consistent with CDC guidelines at the time, including shoe covers and face shields. An N-95 mask was optional -- consistent with CDC guidelines at the time.
- Every CDC update was followed. For example, when they started recommending leg covers.
- After the CDC recommended nurses wear isolation suits, the nurses asked questions and were concerned about their necks being exposed. At that time, the CDC told them they could pinch and tape the necks of their gowns. When nurses were still concerned, the hospital ordered hoods.
- Nurses who were classified as "no risk" or "no known exposure" were allowed to treat patients, per CDC guidance.
- Patients who might have been exposed were isolated or housed, per CDC guidance.
- Hazardous waste was contained and located in containable and safe locations, which was above and beyond CDC recommendations.
- When the Tyvek suits arrived, some were too large. Smaller sizes have come in since then, but some nurses may have had to use tape to get a better fit.
"According to an employee satisfaction survey by Press Ganey, Texas Health Dallas is in the top one percent in the country when it comes to employee engagement and partnership," the hospital said.
On Thursday the chief clinical officer and vice president of Texas Health Resources and the director of the CDC will testify before Congress on what went wrong while handling the Ebola outbreak in Dallas.
Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital says it followed CDC guidelines.
So far nurse Nina Pham, 26, is still in good condition at Presbyterian. A second nurse, Amber Vinson, 29, has been moved to Emory University Hospital in Atlanta.
READ: CDC: Second Ebola nurse moved to Atlanta
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