Reports from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and various public health officials indicate that the possibility of mass exposure to the Ebola virus is extremely small, the CDC has issued infection prevention recommendations.
While the recommendations are primarily for healthcare personnel and others indirectly involved with patient care (housekeeping, maintenance, security and others) in hospitals, the guidance also can apply to other healthcare settings, such as skilled nursing and assisted living communities. The CDC also advises that administrators should develop a policy to manage and monitor personnel exposed to the virus as well as the implementation of nonpunitive sick leave policies. Visit the CDC Ebola website to see the complete list of recommendations, along with infection prevention procedures.
Long-term care communities can be proactive in their responses to this health scare. Communicate with residents and staff to reassure them, and encourage them to report any symptoms they might experience.
“Prevention is everything. People shouldn’t react out of fear to Ebola; they should react out of proactive strength,” JoAnne Carlin, vice president of clinical risk services at Willis Senior Living Practice Group, said in an article. Carlin stresses the importance of taking precautions to prevent infections from starting, including sanitizing high-touch surfaces and resident equipment, such as walkers.
