Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre says the protocols they have in place for potential Ebola cases were expertly executed on Saturday.
On Saturday, a patient was transported to RVH in Barrie and then to Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto with Ebola-like symptoms. While the tests came back negative first responders were ready for anything.
“It was a remote possibility, but it was a possibility and that's why we train,” says Andrew Robert, County of Simcoe Paramedic Services Chief & Director.
A screening process was executed by first responders, and when they learned the patient recently visited West Africa, Ebola protocols were put into action. Greg VanRooyen was one of the paramedics on scene and says while the situation was unusual, his team was ready.
“We wear personal protective equipment daily, routinely on calls, this is just an enhanced type of equipment. So it's second nature to the paramedic to apply the equipment to protect ourselves.,” he says.
Everyone caring for the patient wore safety glasses, two sets of gloves, a mask and a full suit for protection. It takes about five minutes to put everything on. Windows were also sealed in the ambulance, and extra gear was removed to minimize any risk of spreading the disease.
After the paramedics picked up the patient, they were brought to RVH. Hospital staff also had to wear protective gear and the patient was taken straight into a decontamination area.
Just a few short steps away from that area, is the negative pressure room where the patient was treated. Five nurses were on hand, working in teams.
Judy Ball was one of the nurses working on Saturday night, and says it was a seamless transition between paramedics and hospital staff.
“They were prepared to go out and meet the ambulance and start with the patient from the door,” she says. “They knew exactly what to do for dressing up in their protective equipment, they knew the drill for coming in and out.”
RVH Chief of Staff, Dr. James Shaver says as far as he's concerned, things couldn't have been smoother.
“It was a pretty exciting time here for a few hours, but the right thing got done, and the patient was properly transferred to Toronto, so we're really excited about that.”
Robert says the plan is to do a debrief about the call with everyone who was involved in the coming days. He says he's satisfied with how things were managed, but is always looking for ways to improve their service.
