Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas may be one of the best facilities in the country, but when it comes to treating Ebola patients, it now admits it dropped the ball, with deadly consequences. The facility's chief clinical officer Daniel Varga admitted in a Capitol Hill hearing that some of the precautions taken by hospital staff, such as wearing more layers of gear than the CDC, directed actually put the staff at risk.
Varga also addressed the fact that Thomas Eric Duncan was first sent home after a visit to the emergency room rather than being admitted immediately.
In his statement, Varga conceded:
"Unfortunately, in our initial treatment of Mr. Duncan, despite our best intentions and a highly skilled medical team, we made mistakes. We did not correctly diagnose his symptoms as those of Ebola. We are deeply sorry. Also, in our effort to communicate to the public quickly and transparently, we inadvertently provided some information that was inaccurate and had to be corrected. No doubt that was unsettling to a community that was already concerned and confused, and we have learned from that experience as well."
Getting it wrong with Duncan likely lead to two nurses — Amber Vinson and Nina Pham — contracting Ebola themselves. It made sense for both to be transferred out of Texas Presby and to hospitals equipped to safely treat them. Another problem has been the fact that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has changed its protocols nearly every other day over the last few weeks.
If the main organization supposedly handling this medical crisis is not exactly sure of what the safety guidelines are, then how can health care workers as well as the general public be definitively protected?
Do you think the CDC has a better handle on what protocols absolutely need to be followed heading into this week? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below.
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