Ebola at Seattle Children’s

WSHA Disaster ConferenceMay 28, 2015

Margot KravetteProgram Manager, Emergency Management

Seattle Children’sHospital – Research - Foundation

• Founded in 1907 as a pediatric orthopedics hospital with 7 beds

• 2015: 323 licensed beds; 284 staffed beds• 2014 Research Institute funding: $91,915,522• 2014 Foundation revenue: $148,319,000

Started quickly and intensely

• October 12 – first patient with Ebola announced by CDC

• October 15 – simulation #1• October 16 – second patient

with Ebola announced by CDC• October 17-19 – staff forums• October 27 – simulation #2• December 10 - CDC visit• December 30 – child with

suspected Ebola

Planning challenges

Limited guidance for pediatrics

• Lack of overarching strategy for pediatrics• CDC• American Academy of Pediatrics• Atlanta and Nebraska hospitals

• More people to protect

• PPE• Can they stay in the

room with the patient?

• Where do they go when not with the patient?

Parents

Training across all the disciplines

• English as second language

• Different learning abilities

• Multiple changes in recommendations

• Size and scope of Seattle Children’s

Size and scope of Seattle Children’s

Procedures and training for…• 8100 employees, medical staff and residents• Large hospital-based ambulatory service• 1 primary care clinic• 16 off campus specialty sites• Home care services

Patient transport – ISO POD

• Can a parent be in with the child?• Child has to be sedated• It’s SCARY!!!

What helped us be successful in Ebola planning?

ED facility – built for decon and isolation

ED isolation room

Space available in the hospital for a special isolation unit.

Mers CoV planning

• Initial travel screening systems already in place• Training completed• Just changed script

Organizational support

• Understood the risk; re-aligned priorities

• Enabled fast response• Dedicated resources

to purchase needed resources

• Sponsored multiple staff forums

Staff and department leadership support

• Clinical and administrative advisory workgroups• Worked across department boundaries• RN’s and physicians volunteered for inpatient Ebola care

team• ED attendings and charge RN’s required to be trained –

no pushback• Everyone stepped up – no push back

Special Pathogens Team

Moving forward