VIDEO: Athens hospital officials talk protection in case of Ebola

St. Mary's Hospital treats as many as 10 patients each day in its isolation rooms.

During flu and pneumonia seasons, that number can jump to 25 per day, the hospital's top nurse said Thursday.

Athens Regional Medical Center also uses its isolation rooms each day, said Chief Medical Officer James L. Moore.

Following the infection of two Dallas nurses treating a now-deceased West African man with Ebola, Athens Regional has identified rooms capable of isolation for Ebola patients, Moore said. ARMC also has been tasked to lead the northeast Georgia region in Ebola training and preparation.

Patients are screened for symptoms and travel history, and should anyone observe any red flags, the patient would be isolated, Moore said.

St. Mary's follows the same protocols.

"Our infection prevention department knows every patient in isolation and they're checking on them daily," said Nina Evans, chief nursing officer for St. Mary's.

A patient exhibiting symptoms of Ebola would enter through the emergency department and be placed immediately in isolation, she said.

St. Mary's is outfitted with a negative pressure system to help prevent cross-contamination between rooms, and hooded protective suits with respirators are available to workers if an Ebola patient were to show symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea.

Following the infection of the Dallas nurses due to what the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention deemed a breach in protocol, Evans said St. Mary's workers participate in continuous coaching sessions on the hospital floor, and those working with infectious patients are closely monitored by members of the infection prevention team. She said the hospital has also met with officials at the University of Georgia, Athens Regional and Landmark Hospital.

"With Athens being a college town ... we had meetings in August about how we would handle (any Ebola cases)," Evans said. "We have come together, and we've discussed it, and we have a plan."

Both hospitals say they're using every resource available to them in the unlikely event a patient is diagnosed with Ebola in the Athens area.

For example, St. Mary's follows an illustrated guide from the CDC, which shows hospital workers the proper sequence for donning and removing personal protective equipment. However, Evans noted that St. Mary's equipment is more protective for the person wearing it than the illustration shows.

The gowns used when treating any infectious patient at St. Mary's have thumb holes, rather than cuffed sleeves, she said. That way, it's not necessary to tape gloves to the gown sleeves. The hospital also uses face masks that loop around the ears, rather than tie behind the head.

"They don't have to worry about their head or neck becoming contaminated," Evans said.

Moore did not offer specific details about the type of equipment or protective gear used at Athens Regional, but said the hospital has "all the necessary personal protective equipment" to safely care for patients and protect staff.

"The personal protective equipment provided for our staff is of the highest level (and) would not require radical changes based on a patient's condition," he said.

Moore said individuals experiencing symptoms like fever and headaches, weakness, muscle pain, vomiting or abnormal pain should first contact their primary care provider and allow them to prepare a care plan.

Contact government and enterprise reporter Kelsey Cochran at (706) 208-2233.