Duke Administrators Talk Ebola, Patient Safety

Duke leaders on Wednesday hosted a panel discussion on Ebola and Duke’s protocols to protect employees, patients and visitors in the remote possibility of a case in its healthcare facilities.

Dr. Cameron Wolfe, of Duke Medicine’s Division of Infectious Diseases, and other panelists spoke on topics related to international travel and Duke’s preparations to respond. Wolfe gave an overview of the disease and why faculty and staff shouldn’t feel threatened.

“The only way to become infected is through intimate contact with bodily fluids,” Wolfe said. “In order for you to get sick yourself, you need to come in contact with someone who is sick, infectious and unwell and there’s even a time window in which they’re contagious. Unless you have direct and intimate exposure, the likelihood of contracting a secondary case is vanishingly small.”

Health System faculty and staff have been receiving training over the past month on how to deal with patients who believe they might carry Ebola symptoms and how to properly use medical clothing and equipment to keep employees safe and minimize any threat of spreading the virus.

Other Duke panelists Wednesday included Dr. John Vaughn, director of the Student Health Center, Dr. Carol Epling, director for Employee and Occupational Health and Wellness, and Kyle Cavanaugh, vice president for administration.

Epling and Vaughn stressed protocols put in place by Duke Medicine to screen patients for Ebola and prepare healthcare professionals with plans for isolation and notification in case of dealing with the disease. Of most importance is finding out whether a person traveled outside the U.S. within a timeframe of three weeks, Ebola’s incubation period, and if they traveled to an African country affected by Ebola. 

During the presentation, Wolfe iterated the biggest challenge facing West African countries dealing with Ebola outbreaks is their lack of healthcare infrastructure. He noted that the number of doctors and nurses and quality technology and training available in the United States means risk of Ebola spreading domestically is not likely.

To emphasize that point, Cavanaugh said that more than 50,000 Americans died last year of seasonal influenza, whereas only one American has died from Ebola.

“We provide as safe an environment as possible and have been looking at this situation from every angle imagined,” Cavanaugh said. “We have procedures in place in the unlikely scenario of having a patient dealing with these symptoms.”