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HHS funds hospital upgrades for severe infections, Ebola
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The United States Department of Health and Human Services has awarded nine health departments and their partner hospitals $20 million to upgrade their preparations for patients with severe infectious diseases, including Ebola, according to a press release.
“This approach recognizes that being ready to treat severe, highly infectious diseases, including Ebola, is vital to our nation’s health security,” Nicole Lurie, MD, HHS assistant secretary for preparedness and response, said in the release. “This added regional capability increases our domestic preparedness posture to protect the public’s health.”
In addition to the initial $20 million, HHS also will provide $9 million during the next 4 years to help the regional treatment centers sustain their ability to care for highly infectious patients. Each center will receive approximately $3.5 million over 5 years, the release said. Congress appropriated the funds in response to the Ebola outbreak and cases that were transferred to the United States.
The awardees include: Massachusetts Dept. of Public Health and Massachusetts General Hospital; New York City Dept. of Health and Mental Hygiene and New York City Health and Hospitals Corp. and HHC Bellevue Hospital Center; Maryland Dept. of Health and Mental Hygiene and Johns Hopkins Hospital; Georgia Dept. of Public Health and Emory University Hospital and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta/Egleston Children’s Hospital; Minnesota Dept. of Health and the University of Minnesota Medical Center; Texas Dept. of State Health Services and the University of Texas Medical Branch; Nebraska Dept. of Health and Human Services and Nebraska Medicine-Nebraska Medical Center; and Washington State Dept. of Health and Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center and Children’s Hospital, according to the release.
These regional treatment centers, chosen by a panel of experts for their ability to respond in a crisis, must be ready to:
- treat two or more Ebola patients simultaneously;
- isolate 10 or more people with a respiratory infectious disease;
- treat children with Ebola and other infectious diseases, or partner with an institution from the area that has the capability; and
- handle Ebola-contaminated or other highly contaminated infectious materials.
HHS currently is seeking a partner hospital for a treatment center in the region that includes Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada and the Pacific island territories, according to the release.