In a statement issued early Thursday from Texas Health Presbyterian, the hospital responded to allegations by National Nurses United that protocols and equipment were not up to the task of treating Duncan. The hospital says it followed CDC guidelines at the time.
Texas Health Presbyterian also said it would offer a special room “to any of our impacted employees who would like to stay here to avoid even the remote possibility of any potential exposure to family, friends and the broader public,” according to a statement late Wednesday, adding, “We are doing this for our employees’ peace of mind and comfort. This is not a medical recommendation.”
Dr. Thomas Frieden, the director of the CDC, is also expected to testify before the House subcommittee. In prepared remarks, he calls the current epidemic “the biggest and most complex Ebola challenge the world has ever faced.”
Frieden confirmed that after Vinson cared for Duncan and while she was being monitored for symptoms, she called the CDC and asked for guidance on whether she should take a flight from Dallas and Cleveland.
“I have not seen the transcript of the conversation. My understanding is that she reported no symptoms to us,” he said.
Obama has made ramping up efforts to respond to Ebola a priority and wants to make sure what happened in Dallas doesn’t happen elsewhere across the country. He said efforts are being taken very seriously at the highest levels of the government.
“As soon as somebody is diagnosed with Ebola, we want a rapid response team, a SWAT team, essentially, from the CDC to be on the ground as quickly as possible — hopefully within 24 hours — so that they are taking the local hospital step by step through exactly what needs to be done and making sure that all the protocols are properly observed; that the use of protective equipment is done effectively; that disposal of that protective equipment is done properly,” Obama said after Wednesday’s Cabinet meeting.
Article Appeared @http://www.mprnews.org/story/2014/10/16/nurse-moved-to-nih-ebola