Checklist for Healthcare Coalitions for Ebola Preparedness 

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ 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 members, aim to increase understanding of 

the Ebola virus disease (EVD) and encourage community-level preparedness for U.S. 

Healthcare Coalitions1 and their members in managing patients with Ebola and other infectious 

diseases. W e are encouraging healthcare coalitions to work with their members to ensure they 

can detect, protect, and respond to a person under investigation (PUI) for Ebola. Many of the 

signs and symptoms of Ebola are non-specific and similar to those of other common infectious 

diseases such as malaria, which is commonly seen in W est Africa. Transmission of Ebola can 

be prevented by using appropriate infection control measures. 

This checklist is intended to enhance collective preparedness and response by highlighting 

key areas for healthcare coalitions to review in preparation for a person under investigation 

(PUI) for Ebola at a coalition member’s facility. The checklist provides practical and specific 

suggestions to ensure healthcare coalition members are able to detect possible Ebola cases, 

protect employees, and respond appropriately. 

Now is the time to prepare as it is possible that individuals with Ebola in West Africa may 

travel to the United States and exhibit signs and symptoms of Ebola, and present to U.S. 

facilities. 

Healthcare coalitions should encourage their members to review infection control policies and 

procedures, and suggest that their members incorporate plans for administrative, 

environmental, and communication measures. Healthcare coalitions should also define, along 

with their members, work practices that will be required to detect persons possibly infected with 

Ebola or other infectious germs; prevent spread throughout the community; and manage the 

impact on patients, healthcare facilities, and staff. 

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

standards. It is a list of activities that can help each healthcare coalition member prepare. Each 

healthcare coalition is different and should adapt this checklist to meet their needs. 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 fluids (blood, urine, feces, semen, sweat, etc.), contaminated medical supplies and 

equipment, or contaminated environmental surfaces. 

HHS has created a suite of detailed checklists you may consider sharing with your coalition 

members. (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 See http://www.phe.gov/Preparedness/planning/hpp/Pages/overview.aspx 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PREPARE TO DETECT
 

DETERMINE IF THERE IS A ROLE FOR THE COALITION TO: Yes No 

Encourage their members to develop protocols for notifying the coalition’s 

identified points of contact and other member facilities and community partners of 

any person under investigation (PUI) for Ebola. 

Regularly schedule meetings with members to assist Ebola response planning 

efforts that prepare and prioritize assets, and coordinate potential services of 

each partner. 

Encourage coalition member to participate in exercises (e.g. discussion tabletop, 

tracers) that detect gaps (e.g. planning, staffing, training) in the coalition’s ability 

to respond to a case or a cluster of Ebola cases and other infectious diseases. 

Encourage facilities to conduct no-notice drills, spot checks and inspections of 

triage staff to determine their ability to incorporate screening procedures, and 

initiate notification, isolation, and PPE procedures for their facilities. 

Have regular meetings with coalition members to coordinate messaging around 

Ebola and ensure members are aware of the most recent CDC Ebola guidance. 

Request that health departments share the latest guidance on infection control 

and case management. 

Share best practices and information so members can support each other related 

to detection. 

PREPARE TO PROTECT
 

DETERMINE IF THERE IS A ROLE FOR THE COALITION TO: Yes No 

Establish a protocol for coordinating situational awareness activities during a 

potential Ebola outbreak. 

Promote consistent protocols for all members in waste management and 

hazardous material collection. 

Encourage consistency among members for pathogen handling by laboratory 

personnel 

Promote consistency in human resource guidance and policies (e.g. travel, 

furlough, self-health screening) for all members. 

Create, or update, a real-time, integrated inventory management system to help 

track available resources and PPE. 

Update resource assessment of infection-control capabilities of every facility in 

the coalition. 

Review and discuss your community’s protocols for handling an Ebola case. 

Review and discuss the need for inter-facility patient transfers, and develop 

inter-facility transfer protocols as needed. 

Facilitate a coordination call with members to: 

 Engage the members in reviewing protocols for inter-facility transfer of 

patients, 

 Review infectious disease procedures and reporting requirements, and 

 Review protocols, coordination, and exercise/test the ability to share 

relevant health data between key stakehold ers, coalition 

members, public health, emergency management, etc. 

Share best practices and information so members can support each other related 

to protection. 


 


 

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PREPARE TO RESPOND
 

DETERMINE IF THERE IS A ROLE FOR THE COALITION TO: Yes No 

Develop and/or test: 

 Emergency functions, 

 Incident management system, and 

 Crisis communications that are coordinated among members and with 

local and state public health departments. 

Share best practices and information so members can support each other related 

to responses. 

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 Homepage and review CDC’s Ebola 

response guide checklists for: 

 Clinician and healthcare workers 

 Healthcare facility information: Hospitals and Healthcare Settings 

Stay informed! The following sources (some may need subscription) 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 

emphasis on Capabilities #6 (Information Sharing) and #14 (Responder Safety and Health) 

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

 Review and distribute the Guidelines for Environmental Infection Control in Health-Care 

Facilities.
 

 Guidance on Air Medical Transport for Patients with Ebola Virus Disease.
 


 


 

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Check CDC’s Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever 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). 


 


 

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