3 Denver Area Hospitals Designated To Treat Ebola Patients
DENVER (CBS4) - The state's department of public health has designated Denver Health, Children's Hospital and University Hospital as the three facilities that would care for an Ebola patient, should one be diagnosed in Colorado.
After a third case of the virulent virus was diagnosed in the United States earlier this week, Colorado health officials announced the state was ready and equipped to handle an Ebola patient, if necessary.
"We have established the channels of communication. We have the alignment of most of the health care providers in the state. We have ongoing conversations with the health care-providing community," Dr. Larry Wolk, the executive director of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment said.
Following the announcement, Children's Hospital said it is ready to screen, isolate and assess Ebola patients.
"All visitors will be screened for international travel history in the last 21 days," its statement read in part.
University Hospital said it has an isolation unit that would be dedicated to patients, should the need arise.
"This unit is separate from the rest of the hospital and we're confident that our highly trained nurses, physicians and staff members will be able to safely care for these patients," the hospital said in a statement.
Denver Health said not every staff member -- only those who volunteer -- will be trained to care for an Ebola patient, according to an email obtained by CBS4.
