There have been no cases of Ebola diagnosed in New York, and while officials hope it stays that way, they are preparing just in case. NY1′s Arlene Borenstein filed the following report.
If someone walks into Richmond University Medical Center with Ebola-like symptoms, doctors say they will be ready.
“Those patients who may have meet the case definition for Ebola, they’re going to be isolated immediately. The Department of Health will be called,” said Dr. Frank Scafuri of Richmond University Medical Center.
Senior hospital officials met Thursday to go over their protocol. They said there are 10 patient isolation rooms. Hazmat suits are also expected to come in Friday.
Potential Ebola patients can also expect to be questioned about any recent travels to West Africa or contact with people who have been to the region in the last 21 days.
“We hope that people will be honest with us. We’re hoping that we’re all in this together,” said Mansoor Khan, chairman of emergency medicine at Richmond University Medical Center.
Top officials at Staten Island University Hospital also held a meeting to discuss protocol.
On the state level, Governor Andrew Cuomo designated eight hospitals statewide to treat potential patients with Ebola. Five are in the city: Mount Sinai, NewYork-Presbyterian and Bellevue in Manhattan, Montefiore in the Bronx and North Shore-LIJ Health System in Queens.
The state’s preparedness plan includes unannounced drills that are already happening at hospitals and health care facilities but will also expand to college campuses and mass transit.
“We’ve been drilling for it and preparing for it for weeks,” Cuomo said. “So no New Yorker should be unduly concerned if we identify a case of Ebola in New York.”
Cuomo also said the Port Authority and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority are training the individuals who would be responsible for responding to an Ebola case.
“How do you handle the case from the New York city subway system to an ambulance, to the right hospital?” Cuomo said. “Sometimes, we go through a lot of prep and the situation never presents itself. Fine. I would rather that than the alternative, which is we’re unprepared.”
On Staten Island, the Department of Health is holding a town hall Friday at P.S. 57 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. to bring residents more information on Ebola.
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