TALLAHASSEE – On Monday, October 20th officials with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) held a statewide call with Florida’s hospital executives in response to Governor Rick Scott’s request for the CDC to share lessons learned for Ebola preparedness. The call provided guidance to hospitals on the proper use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), effective clinical strategies for safety in hospitals, and appropriate management of Ebola medical waste.
The new CDC guidance emphasizes full coverage of skin, oversight by a trained site manager and limiting the number of employees in Ebola care areas. According to CDC officials on the Florida call, the guidelines suggest the use of an observer for donning and doffing PPE in a designated area adjacent to the patient’s room.
The Florida Department of Health continues to work closely with health care professionals, hospitals, local community leaders, and the CDC to ensure that Florida is prepared to care for an Ebola patient while keeping emergency first responders and health care professionals safe. In addition, the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) has confirmed 65 Florida hospitals have now completed Ebola preparedness training while efforts continue to ensure all 210 hospitals have staff trained quickly.
