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Johns Hopkins Medicine Works with CDC to Produce Video Series on Effective Ebola Treatment


 
Entrance to emergency room at hospital
To increase preparedness for hospital staff, Johns Hopkins Medicine has released four web-based training modules to help emergency departments treat patients with Ebola or other infectious diseases.

The series, entitled “Ebola Preparedness: Emergency Department Guidelines,” helps workers to identify, triage and manage the care of patients who come in and may have Ebola. The videos also highlight the importance of communication between doctors and patients, and between departments.

The videos are available for viewing by anyone on the YouTube channel for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The videos range in length from six to 17 minutes and cover topics such as “Considerations for Preparedness,” “Screening Patients for Ebola Risk Factors and Symptoms,” “Isolation of a Patient with Ebola Risk Factors and Symptoms” and “Evaluate and Briefly Manage Patients: Ebola Assessment Hospitals.”

Together, the videos showcase the CDC’s three-step strategy for treating Ebola: identify, isolate and inform.

Lisa Maragakis, director of hospital epidemiology and infection control at The Johns Hopkins Hospital, explained the need for such trainings in the U.S.

“In the last several years, our world has witnessed outbreaks of coronavirus, severe acute respiratory syndrome, Middle East respiratory syndrome and novel influenza viruses, such as H1N1, and, most recently, Ebola,” she said. “These modules provide tools and resources that emergency department staff can reference when preparing to care for patients with any highly infectious disease.”

Some diseases, such as Ebola, are still threats in the United States. Health experts from the Wellcome Trust and the University of Minnesota’s Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP) are pushing for an Ebola vaccination in order to curb the threat.

Even the measles outbreak in California has created more public pressure to encourage parents to vaccinate their children. The state is currently considering a law that would eliminate the “personal belief exemption” for parents who choose to not vaccinate their kids.

Not only could the videos from Johns Hopkins help streamline the process for treating patients with infectious diseases, but they could also prevent senseless tragedy, as well.

Each year, between 44,000 and 98,000 American die in hospitals due to preventable medical errors. Many more may be put at risk if improper medical procedures compromise the health of other patients.

Peter Pronovost, senior vice president for patient safety and quality at Johns Hopkins Medicine, said that the videos will ultimately help prepare healthcare providers to better treat patients. “As clinicians, we have a responsibility to provide patient-centered, respectful care in the safest manner possible, no matter the circumstances,” he said.

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