Detailed Hospital Checklist for Ebola Preparedness

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention (CDC), and Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response

(ASPR), in addition to other federal, state, and local partners, aim to increase understanding of

Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) and encourage U.S. hospitals to prepare for managing patients with

Ebola and other infectious diseases. Every hospital should ensure that it can detect a patient with

Ebola, protect healthcare workers so they can safely care for the patient, and respond in a

coordinated fashion. Many of the signs and symptoms of Ebola are non-specific and similar to

those of many common infectious diseases, as well as other infectious diseases with high

mortality rates. Transmission can be prevented with appropriate infection control measures.

In order to enhance our collective preparedness and response efforts, this checklist highlights

key areas for hospital staff -- especially hospital emergency management officers, infection

control practitioners, and clinical practitioners -- to review in preparation for a person with

Ebola arriving at a hospital for medical care. The checklist provides practical and specific

suggestions to ensure your hospital is able to detect possible Ebola cases, protect your

employees, and respond appropriately.

While we are not aware of any domestic Ebola cases, now is the time to prepare, as it is

possible that individuals with Ebola in West Africa may travel to the United States, exhibit

signs and symptoms of Ebola, and present to facilities.

Hospitals should review infection control policies and procedures and incorporate plans for

administrative, environmental, and communication measures, as well as personal protective

equipment (PPE) and training and education. Hospitals should also define the individual work

practices that will be required to detect the introduction of a patient with Ebola or other emerging

infectious diseases, prevent spread, and manage the impact on patients, the hospital, and staff.

The checklist format is not intended to set forth mandatory requirements or establish national

standards. In this checklist, healthcare personnel refers to all persons, paid and unpaid, working

in healthcare settings who have the potential for exposure to patients and/or to infectious

materials, including body substances, contaminated medical supplies and equipment, or

contaminated environmental surfaces.1

This detailed checklist for hospitals is part of a suite of HHS checklists found on the CDC Ebola 

site (http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/hcp/index.html). 

CDC is available 24/7 for consultation by calling the CDC Emergency Operations Center

(EOC) at 770-488-7100 or via email at eocreport@cdc.gov.

1 Healthcare personnel includes, but is not limited to, physicians, nurses, nursing assistants, therapists, technicians, laboratory personnel, autopsy

personnel, students and trainees, contractual personnel and persons not directly involved in patient care (e.g., house-keeping, laundry).
2

C=Completed; IP=In Progress; NS=Not Started

PREPARE TO DETECT C IP NS

Review risks and signs and symptoms of Ebola, and train all front-line clinical staff

on how to identify signs and symptoms of Ebola.

Review CDC Ebola case definition for guidance on who meets the criteria for

a person under investigation for Ebola and proper specimen collection and 

shipment guidelines for testing. 

Ensure EMS Crews at hospitals and other agencies are aware of current 

guidance. 

Review Emergency Department (ED) triage procedures, including patient

placement, and develop or adopt screening criteria (e.g. relevant questions:

exposure to case, travel within 21 days from affected West African country) for

use by healthcare personnel in the ED to ask patients during the triage process

for patients arriving with compatible illnesses.

Post screening criteria in conspicuous placements at ED triage stations, clinics,

and other acute care locations (see suggested screening criteria in

(Attachment A).

Designate points of contact within your hospital responsible for communicating

with state and local public health officials. Remember: Ebola is a nationally

notifiable disease and must be reported to local, state, and federal public health

authorities.

Ensure that all triage staff, nursing leadership, and clinical leaders are familiar

with the protocols and procedures for notifying the designated points of contacts

to inform 1) hospital leadership (infection prevention and control, infectious

disease, administration, laboratory, others as applicable), and 2) state and local

public health authorities regarding a person under investigation (PUI).

Conduct spot checks and inspections of triage staff to determine if they are

incorporating screening procedures and are able to initiate notification, isolation,

and PPE procedures for your hospital.

Communicate with state and/or local health department on procedures for

notification and consultation for Ebola testing requests.

Ensure that laboratory personnel are aware of current guidelines for specimen

collection, transport, testing, and submission for PUI.

PREPARE TO PROTECT C IP NS

Review and distribute the Guidelines for Environmental Infection Control in 

Health-Care Facilities.

Treat all symptomatic travelers returning from affected West African countries

as potential cases and obtain additional history.

Conduct a detailed inventory of available supply of PPE suitable for
3

standard, contact and droplet precautions. Ensure an adequate supply, for all

healthcare personnel, of:

• Impermeable gowns (fluid resistant or impermeable),

• Gloves,

• Shoe covers, boots, and booties, and

• Appropriate combination of the following:

o Eye protection (face shield or goggles),

o Facemasks (goggles or face shield must be worn with

facemasks),

o N95 respirators (for use during aerosol-generating procedures)

• Other infection control supplies (e.g. hand hygiene supplies).

Ensure that PPE meets nationally recognized standards as defined by the

Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA), CDC, Food and Drug

Administration (FDA), or Interagency Board for Equipment Standardization and 

Interoperability.

Review plans, protocols, and PPE purchasing, with your community/coalition

partners, that promote interoperability and inter-facility sharing if necessary.

Ensure Ebola PPE supplies are maintained in triage, ED, and all patient

care areas.

Verify that all of your healthcare personnel:

• Meet all training requirements in PPE and infection control,

• Are able to use PPE correctly,

• Have proper medical clearance,

• Have been properly fit-tested on their respirator for use in aerosolgenerating procedures or more broadly as desired, and

• Are trained on management and exposure precautions for suspected or 

confirmed Ebola cases.

Encourage healthcare personnel to use a “buddy system” when caring for 

patients and when putting on and removing PPE.

Spot-check frequently to be sure standard, contact and droplet infection control

and isolation guidelines are being followed, including safe putting on and

removing PPE.

Ensure all healthcare personnel entering the patient room should wear at least:

gloves, gown (fluid resistant or impermeable), eye protection (goggles or face

shield), and a facemask.

Ensure that non-clinical persons have limited access to PUI or confirmed Ebola 

patients’ rooms.

Review and update, as necessary, hospital infection control

protocols/procedures.

Review policies and procedures for screening, minimizing healthcare personnel

exposure, isolation, medical consultation appropriate for Ebola exposure and/or

illness, and monitoring and management of potentially exposed healthcare

personnel.

Review and update, as necessary, all hospital protocols and procedures for

isolation of PUI or confirmed infectious diseases.

Review your hospital’s infection control procedures to ensure adequate

implementation for preventing the spread of Ebola.

Review protocols for sharps injuries and educate healthcare personnel about safe

sharps practices to prevent sharps injuries.

Emphasize the importance of proper hand hygiene to healthcare personnel.
4

Post appropriate signage alerting healthcare personnel to isolation status, PPE

required, proper hygiene, and handling/management of infected patients and

contaminated supplies.

Develop contingency plans for staffing, logistics, budget, procurement, security,

and treatment.

Review plans for special handling of linens, supplies, and equipment from

PUI or confirmed Ebola patients.

Review environmental cleaning procedures and provide education/refresher

training for healthcare personnel responsible for cleaning.

Distribute guidelines concerning laboratory diagnostics and specimen handling

to all laboratory personnel, and post the guidelines conspicuously in your

hospital laboratory.

Provide education and refresher training for healthcare personnel on sick leave

policies.

Review policies and procedures for screening and work restrictions for exposed

or ill healthcare personnel, and develop sick leave policies for healthcare

personnel that are non-punitive, flexible and consistent with public health

guidance.

Ensure that healthcare personnel have ready access, including via telephone,

to medical consultation.

Conduct education and refresher training with healthcare personnel on Ebola

for special pathogen handling in the laboratory.

Ensure that all Airborne Infection Isolation Rooms (AIIR) are functioning

correctly and are appropriately monitored for airflow and exhaust handling.

Remember: CDC recommends an AIIR room be used if aerosol-producing

procedures are absolutely necessary.

PREPARE TO RESPOND C IP NS

Review, implement, and frequently exercise the following elements with firstcontact personnel, clinical providers, and ancillary staff:

• Appropriate infectious disease procedures and protocols, including PPE

donning/removal,

• Appropriate triage techniques and additional Ebola screening questions,

• Disease identification, testing, specimen collection and transport

procedures,

• Isolation, quarantine and security procedures,

• Communications and reporting procedures, and

• Cleaning and disinfection procedures.

Review plans and protocols, and exercise/test the ability to share relevant

health data between key stakeholders, coalition partners, public health,

emergency management, etc.

Review, develop, and implement plans to provide safe palliative care, adequate

respiratory support, ventilator management, safe administration of medication,

sharps procedures, and reinforce proper biohazard containment and disposal

precautions.

Review roles of the infection control practitioner to:

• Ensure appropriate infection control procedures are being followed,

including for lab, food, environmental services, and other personnel,

and

• Maintain updated case definitions, management, surveillance and

reporting recommendations.
5

• Properly train healthcare personnel in personal protection,

isolation procedures, and care of Ebola patients.

Ensure that administrators are familiar with responsibilities during a public

health emergency.

Identify a communications/public information officer who:

• Develops appropriate literature and signage for posting within the

hospital (topics may include definitions of low-risk, high-risk and

explanatory literature for patient, family members and contacts),

• Develops targeted public health risk communication messages for use

in the event of a highly-suspected or confirmed Ebola case in your

hospital,

• Develops internal messages for PUI and confirmed cases, and

internal and external messages for confirmed Ebola cases,

• Contacts local- and state-identified Ebola subject matter experts,

• Requests Ebola-appropriate literature for dissemination to

healthcare personnel, patients, and contacts,

• Prepares written and verbal messages ahead of time that have been

approved, vetted, rehearsed and exercised,

• Works with internal department heads and clinicians to prepare and vet

internal communications to keep healthcare personnel and volunteers

informed, and

• Trains subject-matter experts to become spokespersons and

practice sound media relations.

Plan for regular situational briefs for decision-makers, including:

• PUI and confirmed Ebola patients who have been identified and

reported to public health authorities,

• Isolation, quarantine and exposure reports,

• Supplies and logistical challenges,

• Personnel status, and

• Policy decisions on contingency plans and staffing.

Maintain situational awareness of reported Ebola case locations,

travel restrictions and public health advisories, and update triage

guidelines accordingly.

Incorporate Ebola information into educational activities, including physician

Grand Rounds, nursing educational meetings, and other healthcare system and

coalition healthcare personnel and management training opportunities.
6

Quick Resources List

CDC has produced several resources and references to help you prepare, and more

resources are in development. Information and guidance may change as experts learn

more about Ebola. You should frequently monitor CDC’s Ebola website and review

CDC’s Ebola response guide checklists for:

• Clinician and healthcare workers

• Healthcare facility information: Hospitals and Healthcare Settings

Stay informed! Subscribe to the following sources to receive updates about Ebola:

• CDC Health Alert Network (HAN)

• CDC Clinician Outreach and Communication Activity (COCA)

• CDC National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

• U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety & Health Administration Newsletter

Below are a few of the resources most relevant to healthcare preparedness:

• Ebola Virus Disease Information for Clinicians in U.S. Healthcare Settings

• Case Definition for Ebola Virus Disease. This case definition should be used for screening

patients and should be implemented in all healthcare facilities.

• Safe Management of Patients with Ebola Virus Disease in US Hospitals

• Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for Hospitalized Patients with Known

or Suspected Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever in U.S. Hospitals. This document provides a

summary of the proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

• Interim Guidance for Specimen Collection, Transport, Testing, and Submission for Patients

with Suspected Infection with Ebola Virus Disease

• Interim Guidance for Environmental Infection Control in Hospitals for Ebola Virus

• Sequence for Removing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

• National Guidance for Healthcare System Preparedness’ Capabilities, with particular

emphases on Capability #6 (Information Sharing) and Capability #14 (Responder Safety

and Health)

• Interim Guidance for Emergency Medical Services Systems and 9-1-1 PSAPs.

CDC is available 24/7 for consultation by calling the CDC Emergency Operations Center

(EOC) at 770-488-7100 or via email at eocreport@cdc.gov.

Check CDC’s Ebola website regularly for the most current information. State and local health

departments with questions should contact the CDC Emergency Operations Center (770-488-

7100 or eocreport@cdc.gov).