Staff at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center are taking precautions for treating possible Ebola patients with a special training drill set to take place Friday morning.
Doctors and nurses will receive training at 11 a.m. to learn how to properly diagnose patients suffering from Ebola-like symptoms, as well as how to protect themselves against the deadly disease.
Hospital officials said they will use X-ray machines, ventilators and protective suits specifically for treating patients who may have Ebola. Doctors and nurses will also be trained on how to safely move patients from one area of the hospital to another.
UCLA Health System also adjusted its electronic medical record-keeping to alert staff to patients who recently traveled to high-risk areas. A red bar will appear over the medical charts of such patients. Blood analysis of patients suspected of having Ebola will be conducted in the mobile lab and not the medical center's regular laboratory.
“We are much better prepared today than we were yesterday,” said Dr. Jeffrey Gunzenhauser, LA County Health Officer. “And working with our other partners, we’ll be even more prepared tomorrow.”
City News Service contributed to this report.
