Friday, September 12, 2014
Lessons learned in treating Ebola virus disease: Marshall Lyon, MD
Dr. Marshall Lyon, an infectious disease specialist and one of the five physicians treating Emory's Ebola virus patients, describes supportive care, the health care team, and lessons learned.
See new video (above).
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Tuesday, September 9, 2014
Third patient with Ebola virus disease arrives at Emory University Hospital
A third patient with Ebola virus disease arrived at Emory University Hospital Tuesday morning, Sept. 9, at approximately 10:25 a.m. The patient was transported by air ambulance from West Africa.
The patient will be treated in the same isolation unit in which two patients were recently treated and discharged.
Emory is bound by patient confidentiality and has no information regarding the status of the patient.
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About the Emory University Hospital Isolation Unit:
Emory University Hospital has a specially built isolation unit set up in collaboration with the CDC to treat patients who are exposed to certain serious infectious diseases. It is physically separate from other patient areas and has unique equipment and infrastructure that provides an extraordinarily high level of clinical isolation. This unit has very different capabilities than normally provided to isolate patients in other hospitals. It is one of only five such facilities in the country.
Emory University Hospital physicians, nurses and staff are highly trained in the specific and unique protocols and procedures necessary to treat and care for this type of patient. For this specially trained staff, these procedures are practiced on a regular basis throughout the year so we are fully prepared for this type of situation.
Video: Dr. Bruce Ribner gives a tour of the Emory University Hospital isolation unit which has been used for treatment of patients infected with the Ebola virus.
View more footage of the EUH isolation unit
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Monday, September 8, 2014
Emory Healthcare Statement
Emory University Hospital has been informed that a patient with Ebola virus infection will be brought to its isolation unit. The patient is being transported by air ambulance from West Africa. The patient is expected to arrive tomorrow morning. We do not know exactly what time the patient will arrive.
The isolation unit will be the same facility from which two patients were recently treated and discharged.
We are bound by patient confidentiality and have no information regarding the status of the incoming patient.
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Thursday, August 21, 2014
Two Ebola virus-infected patients discharged from Emory University Hospital
Emory University Hospital confirms that Nancy Writebol was discharged from the hospital on Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2014. Writebol is one of two patients who have been treated for Ebola virus infection at Emory University Hospital’s Infectious Disease Unit. The second patient, Kent Brantly, MD, is being discharged today, Thursday, Aug. 21, 2014.
“After a rigorous and successful course of treatment and testing, the Emory Healthcare team has determined that both patients have recovered from the Ebola virus and can return to their families and community without concern for spreading this infection to others,” says Bruce Ribner, MD, director of Emory’s Infectious Disease Unit.
Criteria for the patients’ discharges were based on blood and urine diagnostic tests and standard infectious disease protocols. The Emory medical team has maintained its extensive safety procedures throughout this treatment process and is confident that the discharge of these patients poses no public health threat.
“The Emory Healthcare team is extremely pleased with Dr. Brantly’s and Mrs. Writebol's recovery, and was inspired by their spirit and strength, as well as by the steadfast support of their families,” says Ribner.
Emory Healthcare’s mission is to heal and to advance knowledge. The team of health care professionals who cared for these Ebola patients has trained for years to treat and contain the most dangerous infectious diseases in the world. The experience, understanding and learning that Emory’s medical professionals have gained during this process will be applied, not only to this particular disease, but to other emergent diseases that the world may confront in the future.
Media Contacts:
Vince Dollard, 404-727-3366, vdollar@emory.edu
Janet Christenbury, 404-727-8599, jmchris@emory.edu
Holly Korschun, 404-727-3990, hkorsch@emory.edu
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Wednesday, August 6, 2014
Serious Communicable Disease Unit (Isolation Unit) in Emory University Hospital
Emory University Hospital has a special isolation unit, called a Serious Communicable Disease Unit, that was set up in collaboration with the CDC to house CDC scientists and others who have traveled abroad and become exposed to infectious diseases. This unit has unique equipment and infrastructure that provides an extraordinarily high level of clinical isolation with very different capabilities than are normally provided to isolate patients in other hospitals. It is one of only four such facilities in the country. This illustration above shows an anteroom for physicians and nurses, two patient rooms and attached patient support rooms and a staff dressing room. Glass windows in patient rooms allow the patient and family to see one another.
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Tuesday, August 5, 2014
Second Ebola patient has arrived safely at Emory University Hospital
As anticipated, a second American patient with Ebola virus has been transferred from an overseas location to a special isolation facility in Emory University Hospital for treatment. After ambulance transfer from Dobbins Air Reserve Base in Marietta, Georgia, the patient arrived at Emory University Hospital on Tuesday, Aug. 5 at approximately 1:10 p.m. ET.
This special isolation unit was previously developed to treat patients who are exposed to certain serious infectious diseases. It is physically separate from other patient areas and has unique equipment and infrastructure that provide an extraordinarily high level of clinical isolation.
Emory University Hospital physicians, nurses and staff are highly trained in the specific and unique protocols and procedures necessary to treat and care for this type of patient. The standard, rigorous infection control procedures used at Emory protect the patient, Emory health care workers, and the general public. As the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says, Ebola does not pose a significant risk to the U.S. public.
Vince Dollard, vdollar@emory.edu, 404-727-3366 (o); 404-550-4867 (c)
Holly Korschun, hkorsch@emory.edu, 404-727-3990 (o); 404-227-1243 (c)
Janet Christenbury, jmchris@emory.edu, 404-727-8599 (o); 404-227-4785
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Friday, August 1, 2014
Ebola Virus Infection Questions and Answers
What are the names of the patients being admitted to Emory University Hospital?
Because of federal privacy laws, and, respecting the privacy of the patients and the patients' families, we are unable to provide any information at this time.
What will the treatment be for these patients?
There is no specific medication that effectively treats Ebola infection. Typical treatment for Ebola patients involves:
Excellent nursing care
Intravenous fluids and blood products as needed
Obtaining frequent vital signs, with frequent laboratory monitoring
Why was Emory University Hospital chosen as the U.S. health care destination for these patients?
Emory University physicians, nurses and staff are prepared to care for patients with communicable disease and are highly trained in protocols and procedures necessary to treat and care for these patients. For this specially trained staff, these protocols are practiced on a regular basis and training is ongoing throughout the year, so they are fully prepared for this type of situation.
Emory University Hospital has a special isolation unit that is physically separate from other patient areas. It was set up in collaboration with the CDC to house CDC scientists and others who have traveled abroad and become exposed to infectious diseases. This unit has unique equipment and infrastructure that provides an extraordinarily high level of clinical isolation with very different capabilities than are normally provided to isolate patients in other hospitals. It is one of only four such facilities in the country.
How do health care workers protect themselves when treating patients with Ebola?
All healthcare providers must wear protective equipment, such as masks, gowns, gloves and eye protection. Proper cleaning and disposal of instruments, such as needles and syringes, is essential. These protocols and practices are routinely followed when treating patients with communicable disease.
Will other patients in Emory University Hospital be at risk for infection?
Emory physicians and health care staff are prepared for the arrival of these patients and have put infection control measures in place to protect health care workers and other patients and hospital visitors. The patients are housed in a special isolation unit separate from other units and patients.
Where is the isolation unit located in the hospital?
The unit is located on a separate floor from any other patient areas.
Could other Ebola patients come to Emory University Hospital also?
At this time there are no plans for additional patients.
How is Ebola virus transmitted?
The virus is transmitted through direct contact with the blood or bodily fluids of an infected person or through exposure to objects (such as needles) that have been contaminated with infected fluids.
For more information on Ebola:
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Emory University Hospital will treat two patients with Ebola virus infection who are being transported by air ambulance from Africa, Emory officials confirmed at a press conference Friday.
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Thursday, July 31, 2014
Letter to the Emory Community
Dear Emory Community,
You may hear in the media that Emory University Hospital plans to receive a patient with Ebola virus infection in the next several days. We do not know at this time when the patient will arrive. Please be assured that our hospital is prepared and ready. We have a highly specialized, isolated unit in the hospital that was set up in collaboration with the CDC to treat patients who are exposed to certain serious infectious diseases. This unit is physically separate from other patient areas and has unique equipment and infrastructure that provide an extraordinarily high level of clinical isolation. In fact, Emory University Hospital is one of just four facilities in the entire country with such a specialized unit.
Emory University Hospital physicians, nurses and staff are highly trained in the specific and unique protocols and procedures necessary to treat and care for this type of patient. For this specially trained staff, these procedures are practiced on a regular basis throughout the year, so we are fully prepared for this type of situation.
We will provide updates as needed via news media and online channels.
Thank you for your commitment to the privacy and well-being of our patients.
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Thursday, July 31, 2014
Emory Healthcare Statement
Emory University Hospital has been informed that there are plans to transfer a patient* with Ebola virus infection to its special facility containment unit within the next several days. We do not know at this time when the patient will arrive.
Emory University Hospital has a specially built isolation unit set up in collaboration with the CDC to treat patients who are exposed to certain serious infectious diseases. It is physically separate from other patient areas and has unique equipment and infrastructure that provide an extraordinarily high level of clinical isolation. It is one of only four such facilities in the country.
Emory University Hospital physicians, nurses and staff are highly trained in the specific and unique protocols and procedures necessary to treat and care for this type of patient. For this specially trained staff, these procedures are practiced on a regular basis throughout the year so we are fully prepared for this type of situation.
Media contacts:
Vince Dollard, 404-727-3366, vdollar@emory.edu
Holly Korschun, 404-727-3990, hkorsch@emory.edu
* On Aug. 1, Emory University learned that a second patient with Ebola virus infection will be transferred to Emory University Hospital the week of Aug. 3.