The Virginia Hospital & Health Care Association Board of Directors Monday announced an agreement to initiate an Ebola treatment response plan, designating the University as one of two response centers. The VHHA is an alliance of 110 hospitals and 35 health delivery systems that develops health care policies in the commonwealth.
The multi-tiered response plan, developed by VHHA and the Virginia Department of Health, establishes a clear course of action should Ebola arise within the state.
According to the guidelines, the University Medical Center and the Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center are the two designated Ebola treatment response centers. If a case of Ebola is diagnosed in Virginia, the patient will be sent to a national bio-containment facility. If that is not possible, they will be sent to either the University Medical Center or VCU Medical Center.
University Health System spokesperson Eric Swensen said the University was chosen as a response facility because of its experience.
“Academic medical centers such as U.Va. have substantial experience in caring for patients with infectious diseases,” Swensen said. “Because Ebola is a serious, potentially life-threatening disease, it is important to have a coordinated statewide plan to provide excellent care for these patients and protect the public's health.”
Though the University Medical Center and VCU Medical Center are designated as the primary response centers, each hospital in the commonwealth will be equipped to screen, isolate and analyze potential Ebola cases. The goal is to ensure the safety of the population should a problem arise in Virginia.
John L. Fitzgerald, VHHA chairman and CEO of Inova Fair Oaks Hospital, said the state needs a clear plan should a case of Ebola be found.
“Virginia’s hospitals and health systems are committed to providing the highest quality of care possible to their patients, including any cases of Ebola that may arise,” Fitzgerald said in the press release. “The VHHA plan furthers that goal by establishing a clear, coordinated and concise strategy in partnership with the Virginia Department of Health for preparing for and treating Ebola patients.”
The Ebola treatment response plan is an extension of the federal Hospital Preparedness Program. The HPP, partnered with Virginia Department of Health, has been administered since 2002 to provide funding in the form of grants and agreements to improve health emergency resources and readiness. The new plan, once implemented, will require a more extensive degree of precaution than is already established under the HPP. Supplemental initiatives, equipment and training for personnel will be needed.
“We need to continue our ongoing process to review, update and refine our plan to safely care for any potential patients with Ebola who may come to the U.Va. Medical Center,” Swensen said of the University’s preparations for the plan. For instance, appropriately protective personal equipment must be used when caring for an Ebola patient, and staff members must be trained on the proper handling of such gear.
VHHA President and CEO Sean T. Connaughton called for more funding due to the high costs of the plan in the VHHA press release.
“Due to the high costs associated with treating Ebola patients, federal and state funding is essential to supporting the treatment of Ebola patients and the containment necessary to prevent the spread of the disease to the general public,” Connaughton said. “The federal and state governments must be prepared to commit financial resources to support the preparation for, and treatment of, Ebola patients.”
The University Medical Center may incur significant costs as a result of playing such a prominent role in the response to a potential outbreak of Ebola. Associated costs will depend heavily on whether or not a case is confirmed and treated at the center.
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