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Medics from Grand Forks AFB & local hospital test readiness for Ebola threat during exercise

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Luis Loza Gutierrez
  • 319th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. --  A man recently walked into the base clinic displaying Ebola-like symptoms; fortunately there was no cause for concern since it was all part of an exercise between the 319th Medical Group here and Altru Health Systems in Grand Forks, North Dakota.

Medical Personnel from the base and the local hospital combined their efforts to take part in an Ebola Preparedness Exercise here, December 19, 2014.

Due to the ongoing Ebola outbreak in West Africa, the 319th MDG chose this specific disease to ensure they are prepared for any scenario related to Ebola that medical personnel on base may need to respond to. Additionally, the Air Force Medical Service mandates that all Air Force medical treatment facilities conduct drills to ensure preparedness for suspected Ebola patients.

"We wanted to practice our process for identifying, isolating and assessing suspected Ebola patients and identify any areas for improvement," said Maj. Ross Free, 319th Medical Operations Squadron Aerospace Medicine Flight commander. "We also wanted to practice our notification process and practice a patient transport scenario with our partners at Altru."

Master Sgt. Brian Fair from the 319th MDOS played the role of the Ebola patient, whose symptoms included fever, headache, abdominal pain and vomiting after returning from a trip to the African country of Liberia eight days prior to visiting the base clinic.

The Airmen at the 319th MDG quickly responded by notifying response personnel. Dr. (Capt). Dongchul Peak, 319th MDOS flight surgeon, stripped down and was assisted by other MDG Airmen in securely donning an In-Place Patient Decontamination Suit or biohazard suit in order to reduce the risk of exposure to Ebola.

The Ebola-stricken patient was then taken by wheelchair to an isolation treatment room where his vitals were taken, and he remained quarantined until Altru personnel arrived.

When asked why there was a need for the patient to be transported to another medical facility, Free responded by saying, "As an outpatient facility, we would not hospitalize and test a suspected Ebola patient. Our job would be to identify a suspected patient, quickly place them in isolation for further assessment, and then coordinate with the North Dakota Department of Health and Altru for transport and further evaluation if it was deemed necessary. Furthermore, Altru's ambulance service was designated by the North Dakota Department of Health as an approved crew for the transport of suspected Ebola patients in our region of the state."

The patient was monitored closely until Altru paramedics, Brittany Gierszewski, Chuck Baskerville and Val McDonald arrived in an ambulance to carefully transport the patient who was temporarily placed inside a plastic protective covering in order to limit further exposure to the public. 

"We will take the areas we identified for improvement and make changes to our process to ensure the most expedient care for a suspected patient while ensuring the safety of our medical providers," said Free.

Altru and the medical group started planning for the exercise for about two weeks prior.

"This was our first exercise where we had a suspected patient and physically walked through the process from identification to transport, from start to finish," said Free. "Altru was an outstanding partner on Friday and showed a commitment for joint preparedness and assistance."