The Potential Ebola–Infected Patient in the Ambulatory Care Setting: Preparing for the Worst Without Compromising Care
Authors: Henry M. Wu, Jessica K. Fairley, James Steinberg, Phyllis Kozarsky
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2014)

Ideas and Opinions6 January 2015The Potential Ebola–Infected Patient in the Ambulatory Care Setting: Preparing for the Worst Without Compromising CareFREEHenry M. Wu, MD, Jessica K. Fairley, MD, James Steinberg, MD, and Phyllis Kozarsky, MDHenry M. Wu, MDFrom the Emory TravelWell Center and Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia.Search for more papers by this author, Jessica K. Fairley, MDFrom the Emory TravelWell Center and Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia.Search for more papers by this author, James Steinberg, MDFrom the Emory TravelWell Center and Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia.Search for more papers by this author, and Phyllis Kozarsky, MDFrom the Emory TravelWell Center and Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/M14-2312 SectionsAboutVisual AbstractPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail The recent case of a traveler with Ebola virus disease in Dallas, Texas (1), underscores the potential that persons with undiagnosed infection may present to health care facilities in the United States and other countries. This possibility may increase as expanded assistance to affected countries puts more international aid workers at risk for exposure. Although the Emory University Hospital Serious Communicable Diseases Unit (SCDU) has been activated to care for patients with Ebola evacuated from West Africa (2), it is clear that preparing other parts of our health care system that might encounter patients with Ebola is critical.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides a broad case definition for a person under investigation (PUI) for Ebola (3); therefore, some PUIs will probably present with milder illness at ambulatory clinics instead of emergency departments (EDs). Infection prevention and control recommendations from the CDC for managing Ebola in U.S. hospitals recommend the use of enhanced isolation precautions and personal protective equipment (PPE) by health care workers (4). Although hospitals and EDs often apply isolation precautions for other infections, implementation in ambulatory care settings can be challenging. Furthermore, other causes of illness—such as gastroenteritis, influenza, or malaria—are more likely among PUIs; therefore, any delay or compromise of routine care resulting from concerns about infection control could be deleterious. To address these challenges, we engaged key stakeholders and developed a protocol for PUIs presenting to our outpatient clinics by systematically considering the parts of an ambulatory encounter (Table).Table. Considerations When Planning for the Management of Patients With Possible Ebola in the Ambulatory Care SettingStaff throughout Emory Healthcare's ambulatory clinic network were informed about Ebola awareness and precautions via multiple e-mails and town hall meetings. However, given the advantages of having a single referral clinic with tropical and infectious disease specialists for PUIs, our travel clinic was designated as the site for PUI evaluations for patients not requiring ED care. Our health care system has developed standardized screening algorithms (for patients calling to schedule appointments and those arriving at clinic) for use in all ambulatory clinics. Any patient who might meet PUI criteria is reported to the infection preventionist, who would facilitate referral to the travel clinic. Our travel clinic was stocked with essential PPE and disposable examination equipment, and a designated PUI examination room was prepared by removing unnecessary equipment, furniture, and décor to reduce the surface area prone to contamination. Clinic staff received formal training on the use of enhanced PPE recommended for healthcare workers caring for patients with Ebola infection (4, 5). A list of essential supplies for all ambulatory clinics was also created for the isolation (pending disposition) of PUIs arriving unexpectedly.Preemptive screening of patients is essential for clinic preparation and to avoid unnecessary protocol activations. Although travel clinic telephone staff have always screened referrals for febrile returned travelers who might require urgent evaluation, they now specifically inquire about recent travel to countries with widespread Ebola transmission (6). Any ill patients with recent travel to these countries are immediately connected to a travel clinic physician who obtains details of their itinerary and symptoms. Patients potentially meeting PUI criteria are triaged according to clinical status to the travel clinic or ED. Profuse diarrhea or frequent vomiting is considered a potential indication for ED triage given the infection control challenges that these symptoms can present in clinic.Patients triaged to our clinic (located in an office tower attached to our hospital) are instructed to arrive at a back entrance. The clinic team meets and transports the patient—who is asked to wear a surgical mask—directly to the clinic examination room using a service elevator, avoiding unnecessary contact with others and maximizing privacy. The transport team comprises staff wearing PPE (a nurse, physician, and security officer) and an additional member who carries clean supplies that might be needed during transport (that is, additional PPE, an emesis bag, towels, a biohazard bag, and hand sanitizer).Upon arrival at the examination room, the escorting nurse and physician evaluate the patient as a team, assisting each other as needed and monitoring for PPE breaches. A third staff member is stationed outside the room to assist with communications and patient registration and direct away unnecessary traffic. Staff exiting the examination room doff and dispose PPE according to current recommendations (4). To minimize unnecessary movement and exposure to others that might occur if PUIs are sent to our usual outpatient laboratory, blood and urine specimens are collected in the examination room, packaged, and transported to the laboratory according to CDC guidelines (7). Because the differential diagnosis of the febrile traveler from West Africa is broad—malaria is commonly diagnosed (8), and other life-threatening infections, including typhoid fever and meningococcemia, are possible—rapid diagnostic testing for malaria and blood cultures are done in addition to measuring routine blood counts and serum chemistry levels.After initial evaluation, the physician engages with our infection control preventionist and the state health department to discuss the differential diagnosis and patient disposition (that is, inpatient admission, the ED, or home) and determines whether maintenance of infection control precautions and Ebola diagnostic testing are indicated. For the exceptional circumstance of a PUI meeting high-risk exposure criteria (3), transfer to the SCDU would be considered. Additional staff (such as the ED physician, hospitalist, and SCDU director) are engaged as appropriate. After clinic discharge, the patient is transported by the same procedure used for arrival (if necessary). Contaminated nondisposable equipment remains in the examination room until it is disinfected with the room itself, and biohazardous waste is removed and disposed of according to guidelines (9).Regular drills are done to maintain staff familiarity with the protocol and PPE. Previous drills and actual implementation have elucidated gaps, and we anticipate that further experience will improve our processes. This protocol is time- and staff-intensive, and we recognize that other nonurgent patient appointments might require cancellation. However, it can easily be adapted to manage patients who might have other highly pathogenic or novel infections, such as the Middle East respiratory syndrome.Our protocol will not necessarily fit other institutions, but we believe that our systematic approach can help other clinics as they assess their levels of preparedness and develop individualized plans and procedures. Ambulatory clinics will probably see few, if any, actual Ebola cases, although a substantial number of patients may meet PUI criteria. Advance preparation will help clinics minimize staff apprehension, implement timely infection control precautions, maintain care standards, and detect Ebola should it present.References1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Cases of Ebola diagnosed in the United States. 14 October 2014. Accessed at www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/outbreaks/2014-west-africa/united-states-imported-case.html on 6 October 2014. Google Scholar2. Isakov A, Jamison A, Miles W, Ribner B. Safe management of patients with serious communicable diseases: recent experience with Ebola virus. Ann Intern Med. 2014. [PMID: 25244492] doi:doi:10.7326/M14-2084 LinkGoogle Scholar3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Case definition for Ebola virus disease (EVD). 4 September 2014. Accessed at www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/hcp/case-definition.html on 6 October 2014. Google Scholar4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Guidance on Personal Protective Equipment To Be Used by Healthcare Workers During Management of Patients with Ebola Virus Disease in U.S. Hospitals, Including Procedures for Putting On (Donning) and Removing (Doffing). 20 October 2014. Accessed at www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/hcp/procedures-for-ppe.html on 27 October 2014. Google Scholar5. Siegel JD, Rhinehart E, Jackson M, Chiarello L; Health Care Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee. 2007 Guideline for Isolation Precautions: Preventing Transmission of Infectious Agents in Health Care Settings. Am J Infect Control. 2007;35:S65-164. [PMID: 18068815] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar6. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2014 Ebola outbreak in West Africa—outbreak distribution map. 2014. Accessed at www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/outbreaks/2014-west-africa/distribution-map.html#areas on 6 October 2014. Google Scholar7. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Interim guidance for specimen collection, transport, testing, and submission for persons under investigation for Ebola virus disease in the United States. 2014. Accessed at www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/hcp/interim-guidance-specimen-collection-submission-patients-suspected-infection-ebola.html on 6 October 2014. Google Scholar8. Mendelson M, Han PV, Vincent P, von Sonnenburg F, Cramer JP, Loutan L, et al; GeoSentinel Surveillance Network. Regional variation in travel-related illness acquired in Africa, March 1997-May 2011. Emerg Infect Dis. 2014;20:532-41. [PMID: 24655358] doi:10.3201/eid2004.131128 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar9. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Interim guidance for environmental infection control in hospitals for Ebola virus. 3 October 2014. Accessed at www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/hcp/environmental-infection-control-in-hospitals.html on 6 October 2014. Google Scholar Comments0 CommentsSign In to Submit A Comment Mahesh Devnani, MBBS, MHA, MHAAssistant Professor of Hospital Administration, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India29 December 2014 Involving non-clinical hospital staff is necessary for successful Ebola strategy Wu and colleagues (1) have provided valuable description of handling ‘person under investigation’ (PUI) for Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in ambulatory settings. These guidelines also hold value in formulating policies to handle other infectious diseases in ambulatory settings.It is noteworthy that Emory engaged various stakeholders in planning and implementation of these guidelines including hospital administrators, environmental services and security. Often such engagements mainly involve clinical staff and the non-clinical employees viz. housekeeping, security, engineering etc. are either left out of such deliberations or have very minimal engagement. The housekeeping employees are usually less educated and skilled, and more prone to occupational injuries in comparison to other category hospital staff (2). But despite being involved in high risk activities like cleaning of rooms and transportation of waste which potentially brings them in contact of PUI’s body fluids, they receive comparatively less attention and training during crisis situations, putting them at higher risk. Keeping in view their low level of knowledge and education, and higher propensity to injuries, it is prudent to engage them early on in EVD planning process. This not only provides them the required knowledge, skills and resources but also boost their confidence in employer. Research show that the employee’s confidence in employer and their perception of the value of their role in the overall organization’s response improve their willingness to work during such situations (3). Hence it is also important that hospital leadership makes every hospital employee aware of the value of their role in fight against EVD.While engaging housekeeping staff in such discussions, one should consider the fact that many housekeeping employees in US hospitals are native Spanish speakers with limited English speaking skills. Special training session in Spanish and/or educational material printed in Spanish have been suggested for effective communication with such staff (4).In conclusion, an effective EVD response in hospital settings requires an active and inclusive approach involving all stakeholders.References1. Wu HM, Fairley JK, Steinberg J, Kozarsky P. The potential Ebola virus-infected patient in the ambulatory care setting: preparing for the worst without compromising care. Ann Intern Med. [Epub ahead of print 21 October 2014] doi:10.7326/M14-23122. Salwe K, Kumar S, Hood J. Nonfatal occupational injury rates and musculoskeletal symptoms among housekeeping employees of a hospital in Texas. J Environ Public Health. 2011;2011:382510. [PMID: 21776437] doi: 10.1155/2011/3825103. Devnani M. Factors associated with the willingness of health care personnel to work during an influenza public health emergency: an integrative review. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2012;27:551-66. [PMID: 23031432] doi: 10.1017/S1049023X120013314. Mannix R. Interactions with Spanish-speaking housekeeping personnel regarding radiation safety issues. RSO Magazine. 2004;9:11-15. Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAuthors: Henry M. Wu, MD; Jessica K. Fairley, MD; James Steinberg, MD; Phyllis Kozarsky, MDAffiliations: From the Emory TravelWell Center and Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia.Acknowledgment: The authors thank Drs. Colleen Kraft and Penny Castellano and Esther Baker, Betsy Hackman, Deena Gilland, Diane Woods, and Linda Young for their support.Disclosures: Authors have disclosed no conflicts of interest. Forms can be viewed at www.acponline.org/authors/icmje/ConflictOfInterestForms.do?msNum=M14-2312.Corresponding Author: Henry M. Wu, MD, 550 Peachtree Street NE, Medical Office Tower 7, Atlanta, GA 30308; e-mail, hmwu@emory.edu.Current Author Addresses: Drs. Wu, Fairley, and Kozarsky: 550 Peachtree Street NE, Medical Office Tower 7, Atlanta, GA 30308.Dr. Steinberg: 550 Peachtree Street NE, Medical Office Tower 5, Atlanta, GA 30308.Author Contributions: Conception and design: H.M. Wu, J.K. Fairley, P. Kozarsky.Drafting of the article: H.M. Wu.Critical revision of the article for important intellectual content: H.M. Wu, J.K. Fairley, J. Steinberg, P. Kozarsky.Final approval of the article: H.M. Wu, J.K. Fairley, J. Steinberg, P. Kozarsky.Administrative, technical, or logistic support: H.M. Wu, J.K. Fairley.This article was published online first at www.annals.org on 21 October 2014. 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Evaluating the Ill Traveler From Ebola-Affected Countries in West AfricaTransport and Management of Patients With Confirmed or Suspected Ebola Virus DiseaseEbola virus disease 6 January 2015Volume 162, Issue 1Page: 66-67KeywordsEmergency departmentHealth careInfectious diseasesInpatientsMalariaNursesPersonal protective equipmentResearch laboratoriesTriageTyphoid ePublished: 6 January 2015 Issue Published: 6 January 2015 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 2015 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...