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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsObama promises Ebola 'SWAT' teams
Obama vows 'much more aggressive' Ebola response
Obama acknowledged that even foolproof plans don't work when local health care providers don't know how to carry them out -- and said his administration will make sure "certain local hospitals that may not have that experience are walked through that process as carefully as possible."
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will have "SWAT teams" ready to send to hospitals where future cases are discovered, he said.
Obama has spoken with the heads of Japan, Germany, Italy, France and England to prod them to pump more resources into combating the Ebola outbreak in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea.
http://www.cnn.com/2014/10/15/politics/obama-ebola/index.html?hpt=hp_t1
I must admit that I didn't like this part~ the President sought to tamp down fears of of an outbreak of the disease within the United States -- saying that he shook hands with, hugged and kissed nurses who'd treated an American doctor who contracted Ebola in Africa, and felt safe.
That part reminded me of when Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins walked unprotected into Louise Troh's apartment. That struck me as dumb. What, set an example that people should just expose themselves unnecessarily?
But I'm very happy about the so-called Ebola SWAT Teams.
magical thyme
(14,881 posts)for evaluation should they show any symptoms, and when those patients are whisked to the 4 BSL-4 hospitals designed, equipped and staffed with those with the most experience with the disease.
Unless they are expecting droves of incoming patients, that strikes me as giving the patients the best chance of survival and minimizes the risk of spread.
amandabeech
(9,893 posts)to take patients in the event that there are more cases than those four hospitals can handle.
Each of the four can handle two or three patients. We may end up with more than eight to twelve patients at a time.
magical thyme
(14,881 posts)using health care staff like guinea pigs while they look for the cheapest solution.
amandabeech
(9,893 posts)kestrel91316
(51,666 posts)who are capable of learning how to do isolation work just as they learned how to do surgical suite work. It's not rocket science.
But it's clear that MANY medical staff are simply not up to the task. They can't remember what they have been taught, can't follow directions, can't be trusted to work independently.
DU's nurses know exactly who I am talking about because you have all had to work with that sort and cover for them at times, right? The ones that make you roll your eyes and wonder how they ever managed to graduate from nursing school?
Isolation units for ALL diseases need to be staffed by the cream of the crop ONLY. And especially if we wind up with facilities filled with Ebola patients.
MineralMan
(146,192 posts)The association is completely wrong.
NightWatcher
(39,343 posts)MineralMan
(146,192 posts)Special Weapons and Tactics. SWAT.
It's an inappropriate word to use with regard to a healthcare emergency. It calls up all the wrong images.
MEDIC Medical Emergency Defense Information & Coordination.
I like MEDIC better, even though I just made it up this minute.
Fumesucker
(45,851 posts)MineralMan
(146,192 posts)Branding stuff is something I do for a living as a minor part of my work.
The word medic has terrific positive connotations. People trust medics. Medics save lives.
Acronyms are important and deserve a lot of thought.
DisgustipatedinCA
(12,530 posts)Little Star
(17,055 posts)MineralMan
(146,192 posts)the right ones is important. SWAT already has a well-defined meaning and that meaning does not apply to epidemiology. It makes no sense when used in that way, and is an acronym that inspires fear and dread in many people.
That's why choosing acronyms is an important thing. They end up meaning things and carrying connotations you didn't expect.
kestrel91316
(51,666 posts)Focus should be on medical preparedness.
MineralMan
(146,192 posts)They're not cops and they don't carry weapons.
marions ghost
(19,841 posts)"swat team"
--especially with the police brutality incidents we are witnessing...not a good association.
rjsquirrel
(4,762 posts)The Ebola swat teams gun down feverish children, elders, and pets and explain later that they were mistaken and thought the whole family had an Ebola virus in their hands.
I trust our government on this why again?
Ykcutnek
(1,305 posts)It wasn't a perfect example, but it wasn't as ridiculous as those who are clutching their pearls over it.
GeorgeGist
(25,294 posts)kestrel91316
(51,666 posts)They want to do it all their way. That's why they took $50 million from CDC last year and yet declined to follow any of their recommendations about Ebola.
amandabeech
(9,893 posts)is being transferred to the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, MD. NIH is one of the four hospitals geared up for Lvl. 4 biohazards. This is per MSNBC on air.
Earlier, a talking head from the Dallas hospital said that the hospital only wants one bed occupied by an Ebola patient.
There's no indication of why Nurse Pham is being transferred to NIH.
Also, somewhere on the net this am, I saw a story from a New Haven, CT, TV station saying that there may be an Ebola patient at Yale New Haven hospital. The person was a medical researcher in Liberia associated with Yale, developed symptoms after returning to the US.
kestrel91316
(51,666 posts)amandabeech
(9,893 posts)depending on who's doing the damning.
The upcoming election makes a lot of people mix too much politics into what is a public health matter.
I'm not sure how much sensible activity will take place, except maybe at some hospitals that have the message now, until the election is over.
kestrel91316
(51,666 posts)infectious diseases and needs to stick with sprained ankles and minor illnesses. Make them a giant Urgent Care.
amandabeech
(9,893 posts)yellowcanine
(35,692 posts)People want to know what is going on. The President has the bully pulpit. This is what it is used for.
kestrel91316
(51,666 posts)They are completely unqualified to deal with anything other than minor illnesses and injuries.
yellowcanine
(35,692 posts)That is the first time I have noticed the actual name of the hospital.
underpants
(182,279 posts)Too little too late (because those 3 whole cases are the beginning of the end)
SWAT TEAMS! Obama is seizing control!!!!
Please help stop Obama's SWAT Teams from taking your guns! Join the NRA now!
(Giggle giggle) Does Obama think he can SWAT AWAY Ebola?
No kidding this isn't about flies in Africa!!
You I know. Really.
Etc.
Enrique
(27,461 posts)i'm not saying anything i'm just saying...