Myrtle Beach Sun News Logo

Area hospitals increase plans, preparedness in response to Ebola | Myrtle Beach Sun News

×
  • E-edition
  • Home
    • Customer Service
    • Subscribe
    • Activate Your Account
    • Account Support
    • Mobile Apps
    • Newsletters
    • The Sun News Store
    • FAQ
    • Cancel SunValues Delivery
    • Plan
    • All Tourist Info
    • Vacation Planner
    • Calendar
    • Where to Stay
    • Ask a Local
    • Festivals Guide
    • Best of the Area
    • Play
    • Nightlife
    • Golf
    • Shopping
    • Shows
    • Myrtle Beach Blog
    • Restaurants

  • Obituaries
    • All News
    • Local News
    • Crime/Courts
    • Business
    • State News
    • Nation/World
    • Weird News
    • More News
    • Politics
    • Myrtle Beach Bike Rallies
    • Submit A News Tip
    • Tourism News
    • Real Estate News
    • All Sports
    • High Schools
    • Coastal Carolina
    • Recreation
    • Golf
    • MB Pelicans
    • Auto Racing
    • More Sports
    • College Sports
    • NFL
    • MLB
    • MB Marathon
    • Toast Of The Coast
    • Green Reading Blog
    • The Roost Blog
    • All Opinion
    • Letters To The Editor
    • Submit A Letter
    • Editorial
    • Cartoons
    • Columns & Blogs
    • Bob Bestler
    • All Living
    • Coasting
    • Neighbors
    • Food
    • Best Of The Beach
    • Announcements
    • Religion
    • Travel
    • Pets
    • Home & Garden
    • All Entertainment
    • Kicks!
    • Best Of The Beach
    • Movies
    • Calendar
    • Contests
    • More Entertainment
    • Comics
    • Puzzles & Games
    • Horoscopes
    • Celebrities
    • Music
    • TV

  • Legals
  • Cars
  • Jobs
  • Moonlighting
  • Homes
  • Classifieds
  • Classified Ads

  • About Us
  • Mobile & Apps

Local

Area hospitals increase plans, preparedness in response to Ebola

By Tonya Root - troot@thesunnews.com

    ORDER REPRINT →

October 17, 2014 10:28 PM

Officials at some area hospitals say they are on alert for potential signs of Ebola and hope their preparedness will help calm fear and anxiety in the community.

Every person that goes to Grand Strand Regional Medical Center is being screened for Ebola, said Winona McLamb, infection preventionist with the hospital.

Because the hospital has a visitor program, every person coming into the facility either as a visitor or patient will be asked about having flu-like symptoms and if they have traveled abroad during the last 21 days specifically to West Africa, McLamb said.

“At every one of those points we have a plan in place for the what-if. We have a designated area to segregate them and then institute our plan,” McLamb said.

SIGN UP

Sign Up and Save

Get six months of free digital access to The Sun News

SUBSCRIBE WITH GOOGLE

#ReadLocal

Conway Medical Center officials were not available for comment.

Grand Strand officials developed their plan about six months ago when news of Ebola cases increased. Staffers have practiced that plan several times and continue to do so and fine-tune it after each drill, she said.

“We’re certainly seeing there are things we need to change and modify,” McLamb said. “Every hospital is doing the same thing, but we all do things a little differently. . . . Education is key because you want your nurses to be comfortable taking care of these people. When they know what to do they’re going to be that much more comfortable. We‘re going to do everything we can to do that safely.”

The plan calls for a separated triage area for the patient and nurses trained in protective equipment and procedures that includes alerting public health officials about a possible infection.

“We’re looking at our outpatient areas as well. We want them to be prepared to manage this as well,” McLamb said of other properties managed by the hospital system. “We’re always going to listen to the CDC with something like this and apply what they advise us to do to our environment.”

But for nurses working with the Georgetown Hospital System, the chance to test their plans happened this week when a person was brought into the emergency room following an accident, said Gayle Resetar, the hospital system’s chief operating officer.

The potential Ebola patient turned out not to meet the CDC risk, she said of Wednesday’s incident.

“Because this week we had an event . . . we are evaluating our response to that event,” Resetar said. “It was an excellent response by our caregivers and our team.”

Officials with the Georgetown Hospital System began to supplement their training to include a response to Ebola about 10 days ago, Resetar said Friday.

Employees have access to online training, reviewed CDC guidelines and hands on training such as use of personal protection equipment, in addition to a taskforce updating plans and equipment, she said.

“We are following the reports from CDC and updates from CDC and South Carolina DHEC closely,” Resetar said. “Our employee safety course is just as important as patient safety.”

Since guidelines are changing and other organizations are promoting stronger guidelines, Resetar said their taskforce will continue to monitor developments about the virus.

“We’ve attempted to be as proactive as we can with as much communication as we can,” she said. “I have no doubt that all of our community hospitals are prepared as any community hospital can be.”

  Comments  

Videos

Horry County Police dispatch describes car chase-turned-shooting as it unfolds Friday

Man pleads in 2017 Conway hit-and-run fatal wreck

View More Video

Trending Stories

Two grocery stores on the Grand Strand are shutting down

February 21, 2019 05:22 PM

Shots fired call, barricaded suspect lead to heavy police response near Coastal Carolina

February 21, 2019 08:37 PM

Did you know about this Myrtle Beach secret? Tunnel stretches beneath Ocean Boulevard

February 22, 2019 01:17 PM

See the beard in real life: Duck Dynasty stars coming to SC for event that helps homeless

February 21, 2019 11:47 AM

She killed her boyfriend then ate a burger. Now, at 72, she wants a new trial or death

February 22, 2019 07:38 AM

things to do

Read Next

Large fire guts apartment building near Barefoot Landing in Myrtle Beach area

Local

Large fire guts apartment building near Barefoot Landing in Myrtle Beach area

By Josh Bell and

Alex Lang

    ORDER REPRINT →

February 22, 2019 10:56 PM

Authorities are responding to a fire on Ocean Creek Drive near Barefoot Landing in North Myrtle Beach on Friday night. There are several firetrucks and ambulances responding to an apartment fire.

KEEP READING

Sign Up and Save

#ReadLocal

Get six months of free digital access to The Sun News

SUBSCRIBE WITH GOOGLE

MORE LOCAL

Horry County solicitor hopes to make quick decision on Johnny Gardner extortion report

Local

Horry County solicitor hopes to make quick decision on Johnny Gardner extortion report

February 22, 2019 07:52 PM
Here’s the latest on a stolen donation truck from the Salvation Army of Horry County

Crime

Here’s the latest on a stolen donation truck from the Salvation Army of Horry County

February 22, 2019 09:12 AM
Did you know about this Myrtle Beach secret? Tunnel stretches beneath Ocean Boulevard

Local

Did you know about this Myrtle Beach secret? Tunnel stretches beneath Ocean Boulevard

February 22, 2019 01:17 PM
Prayers, please: St. Francis lost his head and now I’m losing my mind

Local

Prayers, please: St. Francis lost his head and now I’m losing my mind

February 22, 2019 03:22 PM
Crews respond to reports of a fire at Broadway at the Beach restaurant

Local

Crews respond to reports of a fire at Broadway at the Beach restaurant

February 22, 2019 01:58 PM
Police: Two babies, 5-year-old test positive for drugs in Horry County

Crime

Police: Two babies, 5-year-old test positive for drugs in Horry County

February 22, 2019 02:38 PM
Take Us With You

Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand.

Icon for mobile apps

Myrtle Beach Sun News App

View Newsletters

Subscriptions
  • Start a Subscription
  • Customer Service
  • eEdition
  • Vacation Hold
  • Pay Your Bill
  • Rewards
Learn More
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Newsletters
  • News in Education
Advertising
  • Place a Classified
  • Advertise
  • Rates
  • Contests & Promotions
  • Local Deals
Copyright
Privacy Policy
Terms of Service


Back to Story