Clinicians

Alameda County Ebola Guidance

All Alameda County health care providers should be prepared to identify and temporarily isolate a patient presenting with signs or symptoms compatible with Ebola Virus Disease AND a history of recent exposure. In addition, they should inform the ACPHD Acute Communicable Disease Unit immediately by phone if they have a suspect case to ensure the patient meets the criteria for a suspect case and if so, allow for appropriate infection control precautions and safe transport to an Ebola designated assessment/treatment center.

• Refer to Ebola Case Definition and list of impacted countries for screening.

All hospitals should at a minimum maintain the ability to screen, identify, and isolate suspect Ebola patients; sustain enough Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for 12-24 hours of care; and prepare patient for transfer with coordination and guidance from Alameda County public health and EMS. This preparation is how the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention Ebola Hospital Preparedness framework defines "frontline" health care facilities.
In Alameda County, all hospitals are considered "frontline" except:

• Kaiser Oakland Medical Center - designated Ebola "treatment center"
• UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland designated “assessment” hospital for pediatric patients.

Alameda County Clinical Ebola Guidance is organized by Topic Area
General Clinical Guidance

• ACPHD Health Alerts
• Ebola Virus Disease Information for Health Care Workers and Settings (CDC) 3.4.15
• Ebola Infographics & Illustrations (CDC)- includes French and Spanish 2.18.16
• Evaluating Patients for Ebola Virus Disease (CDC) - includes updated posters for patient evaluation 12.1.15
• Frequently Asked Questions on Screening for Ebola Virus Disease for Providers, Healthcare Facilities and Health Departments (CDC) 3.17.16

EMS/Patient Transport

• Alameda County EMS Medical Director Ebola Memo (ACPHD) 11.10.14
• Alameda County Emergency Medical Services Website
• Example: Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for Patient Handoff between a Healthcare Facility and a Transporting Ambulance (CDC) 1.28.16

Outpatient Settings /Ambulatory Care

• ACPHD Guidance for Management of Suspected Ebola Patients in Outpatient Settings 11.14.14
• REVISED-Ebola Preparedness and Response for Outpatient and Ambulatory Care Settings (CDPH) 1.7.15

• Guidance for Ambulatory Care Staff members in Outpatient and Ambulatory Care Settings (CDC) 3.28.16

Emergency Departments

• Background and Emergency Department Triage Recommendations (CDC) 12.29.15
• Algorithm: Emergency Department Evaluation and Management of Patients with Possible Ebola Virus Disease (CDC) 3.10.15
• Ebola Preparedness: Emergency Department Training Modules (CDC)- 3.19.15

Hospitals

• Ebola Virus Disease Scenario and Template for Hospital Drill (CDPH)- 2014
• Hospitals Ebola Virus Disease Page (CDC) – includes general information as well as information on PPE and treatment for patients 6.19.15

Infection Prevention and Control/Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

• Ebola PPE in Acute Care Hospitals (Cal OSHA) 12.16.14
• CalOSHA Guidance on Ebola in Inpatient Hospital Settings: FAQs (Cal OSHA) 12.16.14
• Interim Guidance on Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to be used by Healthcare Workers in the Inpatient Setting during Management of Patients with Suspected or Confirmed Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in California (CDPH) 1.20.15
• Fact Sheet: PPE Selection Matrix for Occupational Exposure to Ebola Virus (OSHA) 11.24.14
• Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for Hospital Settings (CDC) 9.03.15
• Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Ebola webpage

PPE Training and Tools

• Personal Protective Equipment for Ebola Virus Disease (CDC) - includes training videos on PPE donning and doffing procedures 1.22.15
• Donning and Doffing PPE Handouts (University of Nebraska Medical Center)
• How to put on and how to remove personal protective equipment posters (WHO) 1/15

Laboratory Guidance

• ACPHD Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for Ebola Virus Disease Testing of Suspected Patients in Alameda County 12.22.14
• Guidance for Collection, Transport and Submission of Specimens for Ebola Virus Testing (CDC) 1.30.15
• Packaging and Shipping Clinical Specimens Diagram (CDC) 8.6.14
• Guidance for U.S Laboratories for Managing and Testing Routine Clinical Specimens When There is a Concern About Ebola Virus Disease (CDC) 10.8.15