AP IMPACT: US Health Care Unprepared for Ebola

[bananas]

Source: Associated Press

The U.S. health care apparatus is so unprepared and short on resources to deal with the deadly Ebola virus that even small clusters of cases could overwhelm parts of the system, according to an Associated Press review of readiness at hospitals and other components of the emergency medical network.

Experts broadly agree that a widespread nationwide outbreak is extremely unlikely, but they also concur that it is impossible to predict with certainty, since previous Ebola epidemics have been confined to remote areas of Africa. And Ebola is not the only possible danger that causes concern; experts say other deadly infectious diseases — ranging from airborne viruses such as SARS, to an unforeseen new strain of the flu, to more exotic plagues like Lassa fever — could crash the health care system.

To assess America's ability to deal with a major outbreak, the AP examined multiple indicators of readiness: training, staffing, funding, emergency room shortcomings, supplies and protection for health care workers. AP reporters also interviewed dozens of top experts in those fields.

<snip>

Other findings:

— The emergency care system is already overextended, without the extra stress of a new infectious disease. In its 2014 national report card, the American College of Emergency Physicians gives the country a D-plus grade in emergency care, asserting the system is in "near-crisis."

<snip>

Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory/ap-impact-us-health-care-unprepared-ebola-26547127

[Man from Pickens]

1. Stay calm!

Executive salaries and bonuses will be unaffected - carry on as normal.

[rocktivity]

2. It may be extremely unlikely -- but as long as people are able to leave Ebola-affected countries

during what should be their incubation periods, it's extremely possible. Just have them reserve a ticket, then wait 21 days during which they can do work that does not involve patient or medical facility contact, then pass a blood test before being allowed to travel.


rocktivity

[upaloopa]

5. They will find a way around that and then you won't know where they are

when they are contagious.

[rocktivity]

8. I know it's not totally foolproof, but then again, neither is a complete travel ban

However, it would make the difference between stopping a few people -- and stopping a few dozen -- from "exporting" Ebola elsewhere. It would be better than what we're doing now, and much better than not trying at all.


rocktivity

[NRaleighLiberal]

3. big time helping of fear served up there by AP

ranging from
airborne viruses such as SARS, to an
unforeseen new strain of the flu, to more
exotic plagues like Lassa fever

[upaloopa]

4. It's not like Ebola is our number one health issue

It may be our number one freak out issue but we don't plan our system on the latest freak out.

[hedgehog]

6. This is very true. We aren't really prepared for much of anything odd.

What hospital is going to stockpile something as simple as saline solution? What hospital can afford to stock something as simple as saline solution? Unless we are willing to pay the Federal government to stock regional supply centers, we aren't prepared for something as likely as an influenza pandemic.

[LynneSin]

7. To be fair you could insert the name of any virus there and we are not prepared

It isn't the virus but the state of our healthcare in this country where we put profit before patients.

[Fred Sanders]

16. AP has no intention of being fair, they " forgot" to mention the GOP hatred of a public health

system, isn't that special?

[Blue Idaho]

9. Remind me again - how many Americans died from the flu last year?

No doubt Ebola is a horrible disease but let's try to keep our feet on the ground and worry about first things first. Let's listen to the scientists and doctors and try to steal clear of the professional pot stirrers and those seeking political advantage from a health crisis. There is little doubt in my mind this little drama would play out very differently were it not an election year.

If we fail to keep our heads we find ourselves overreacting and perhaps trading more of our freedoms to some new branch of "Homeland Security" in some unthinking Orwellian deal.

[bananas]

10. American College of Emergency Physicians gives D+, says system is in "near-crisis"

Listen to the doctors, you say?

In its 2014 national report card, the American College of Emergency Physicians gives the country a D-plus grade in emergency care, asserting the system is in "near-crisis."

Obama took a big step with health care, but it's widely recognized that a lot more needs to be done.

[Blue Idaho]

13. So the question is...

Will we listen to the doctors and scientists and act like grown-ups and fix an ailing system or will we freak out every time someone says Ebola!!!!!!

I am not the least little bit surprised by our lack of preparedness or the scorecard you mention. Shit - just look at our roads, our bridges, our rail systems, virtually any infrastructure you care to mention. The place is falling down around our ears and the tight assed republicans are to blame. It has been their stated goal to make government small enough to drown in a bath tub. What we now see is a direct result of those conscious destructive acts over decades.

I don't disagree with the facts - I just think we need to stay focused on solving problems and not letting ourselves be blinded by fear driven by those who think they can capitalize on that fear. Is Paul LePage's biggest concern public health or does he see whipping up a little Ebola fear as a way to gain at the polls? I would not put it past him.

[pnwmom]

12. The public health systems in almost all states are steadily deteriorating due to budget cuts

which will hurt people whether the outbreak is flu, Ebola, TB, or anything else.

If Ebola shines a bright light on the failing status of our public health infrastructure -- good.

[pnwmom]

11. State governments have been hacking away at their public health budgets for years.

New York's is one of the very highest in the country, and several times higher than average. People will no doubt be surprised when more hospitals perform like Dallas Presby than like NY's Bellevue -- but it's predicable based on state infrastructure.

[amandabeech]

14. The one ebola patient seems to be stressing the Bellevue ICU.

Bellevue transferred two or so ICU patients to a sister hospital down the street because the intense needs of the ebola patient meant that there wasn't enough resources for all the other ICU beds available in the hospital.

That brings up the question of how many ebola patients the US may be able to handle at one time. The top units can take 8-11 altogether, and the next tier like Bellevue may be able to take 1 or 2 patients each and there are maybe 30-40 of them. That's really not that many, and in the Bellevue-level hospitals, there may be a decrease in the number of other ICU beds.

[Fred Sanders]

15. AP, the source of so much fear mongering lately, now they do their own "research" to justify it.

Predictable for the corporate media.

[whistler162]

17. Well according to some......

[bananas]

18. That was Poppy Bush's theme song in the 1988 election campaign

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don%27t_Worry,_Be_Happy

The song was used in George H. W. Bush's 1988 U.S. presidential election as Bush's 1988 official presidential campaign song, without Bobby McFerrin's permission or endorsement. In reaction, Bobby McFerrin (a Democrat) publicly protested that particular use of his song, including stating that he was going to vote against Bush, and completely dropped the song from his own performance repertoire, to make the point even clearer. The George H. W. Bush campaign then reportedly desisted from further use of the song.[10]