@article{eb799896fa404253943b1cc4286838aa,
title = "Advancing Preparedness for Highly Hazardous Contagious Diseases: Admitting 10 Simulated Patients with MERS-CoV",
abstract = "The Ebola outbreak of 2014-2016 highlighted the need for the development of a more robust healthcare infrastructure in the United States to provide isolation care for patients infected with a highly hazardous contagious disease. Routine exercises and skills practice are required to effectively and safely prepare care teams to confidently treat this special population of patients. The Nebraska Biocontainment Unit (NBU) at Nebraska Medicine in Omaha has been conducting exercises since 2005 when the unit was opened. Previous activities and exercises conducted by the Nebraska Biocontainment Unit have focused on transporting and caring for up to 3 patients with Ebola virus disease or other special pathogens. Changes in regional and national mandates, as well as the increased potential for receiving multiple patients at once, at a single location, have resulted in a greater demand to exercise protocols for the treatment of multiple patients. This article discusses in detail the planning, execution, and outcomes of a full-scale exercise involving 10 simulated patients with a highly infectious pathogen transmitted by the airborne route.",
keywords = "Hospital preparedness/response, Infectious diseases, Personal protective equipment, Public health preparedness/ response, Viral hemorrhagic fevers",
author = "Angela Vasa and Smith, {Philip W.} and Michelle Schwedhelm and Cieslak, {Theodore J} and Lowe, {John-Martin J} and Kratochvil, {Christopher J} and Beam, {Elizabeth L} and Kate Boulter and Hewlett, {Angela L}",
note = "Funding Information: Angela Vasa, BSN, RN, CCRN, is Nurse Manager, Nebraska Medicine, Nebraska Biocontainment Unit, National Center for Health Security and Biopreparedness, Omaha, NE. Philip W. Smith, MD, is Emeritus Professor, College of Public Health; Theodore J. Cieslak, MD, is Associate Professor, Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health; Elizabeth L. Beam, PhD, RN, is Assistant Professor, College of Nursing; and Angela Hewlett, MD, is Associate Professor, Division of Infectious Diseases; all at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE. Michelle Schwedhelm, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, is Executive Director, Infection Prevention & Emergency Preparedness, Nebraska Medicine, Omaha. John Lowe, PhD, is Associate Professor, Department of Environmental, Agricultural & Occupational Health; Director of Research and Development, Nebraska Biocontainment Patient Care Unit; and Director of Public Health Training and Exercise Programs, Center for Preparedness Education, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha. Christopher J. Kratochvil, MD, is Associate Vice Chancellor for Clinical Research, University of Nebraska Medical Center; Vice President for Research, Nebraska Medicine; and Chief Medical Officer, UNeHealth. Kate Boulter, RN, BAN, MPH, is Nurse Manager, Nebraska Biocontainment Unit, Nebraska Medicine, Omaha. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2017, Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. 2017.",
year = "2017",
month = jul,
day = "1",
doi = "10.1089/hs.2017.0003",
language = "English (US)",
volume = "15",
pages = "432--439",
journal = "Health Security",
issn = "2326-5094",
publisher = "Mary Ann Liebert Inc.",
number = "4",
}