Pentagon to create medical support team for U.S. Ebola response

[hawkeye]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has ordered the creation of a 30-member expeditionary medical support team to be able to provide emergency help in the event of an Ebola crisis in the United States, a Pentagon spokesman said on Sunday.

The team of five doctors, 20 nurses and five trainers could respond on short notice to help civilian medical professionals, a statement from Rear Admiral John Kirby said....

http://mobile.reuters.com/article/idUSKCN0I80PI20141019?irpc=932

 

[Emily]

Re: Pentagon to create medical support team for U.S. Ebola response

http://www.cnn.com/2014/10/19/health/us-ebola/index.html

(CNN) -- [Breaking news update, 1:10 p.m. ET]

The U.S. military is forming a 30-person "quick strike team" equipped to provide direct treatment to Ebola patients inside the United States, a Defense Department official told CNN's Barbara Starr on Sunday. The team -- made up of doctors, nurses and specialized trainers -- will be under orders to deploy within 72 hours at any time over the next month, the official said.

 

[JJackson]

Re: Pentagon to create medical support team for U.S. Ebola response

72 hours seems a bit long. You can not leave someone sitting around for 3 days before you help them if they are already symptomatic. A unit like this needs to be based near an airport and go immediately. More like the fire brigade and less like the promised call back from tech support when your broadband goes down.

 

[Thornton]

Re: Pentagon to create medical support team for U.S. Ebola response

The military, VA and many other systems have advanced video-telehealth capabilities. Hopefully they would activate a live continuous link within a hour or so. Even a skype type webcam would be useful.
JT

 

[JJackson]

Re: Pentagon to create medical support team for U.S. Ebola response

I think I was hasty in my earlier judgement and incorrectly divined the unit's purpose. I think this may be a smart move again by Hagel. It is not the military's job to act as first responder the fast response should come from the State health authority or if invited the CDC.

This unit looks more like something they needed in Dallas. All the right kit and plenty of practice working in it plus trainers to bring the normal staff quickly up to speed in the specialised infection control needed for this specific disease. Once the staff is up to speed they can take over and the unit can move on and repeat.

The immediate aid to some unsuspecting GP practice that suddenly finds it has a vomiting EVD patient in its waiting room should be fast and light. Half a dozen specially trained in the use of their PPE to secure the patient for transport, disinfect thoroughly, interview everyone for contact tracing and level of exposure.
Who is undertaking this role?

 

[Thornton]

Re: Pentagon to create medical support team for U.S. Ebola response

I think you will see a rapid trickling down of contingency plans. This week anyone going to a clinic within a large health system should see some signs that have preliminary questions about travel and fever. Training is occurring with the clerks and triage personnel to screen identify and isolate. If within a large health system most will have a rapid response team. The main role of this team is to come with proper equipment and trained personnel who can stay with the patient , direct the contact identification and if necessary obtain the blood specimen for transport to an approved lab. If a stand alone clinic in an urban area, most will have some arrangement in the works with the local health department and EMS.

The members here can report on what they observe in the days ahead.

A critical area identified in Florida is that our one approved lab for Ebola testing is in Miami and the specimen is moved by ground transport. That would be almost 5 hours from North Florida. Most patients who are screened positive, will stay in place until test results are back. I know there is effort to get more available testing. We anticipate there will be modifications to this plan as more information and options become available.
jt