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On
August 29th, 2018 the Michigan Special Pathogens Response Network (SPRN)
team held a conference with regional healthcare coalition leadership and 15
EMS agencies designated to transport special pathogen patients across state
of Michigan, if needed. Over 65 people attended this one-day hands-on conference held at Livingston County EMS.
The
goals of the day were to review EMS protocol; provide hands on training on personal
protective equipment (PPE) and applicable Michigan Occupational Safety and
Health Administration (MIOSHA) guidelines; provide resources and link with
other stakeholders in the SPRN network, and to operationalize transportation
sequence of a patient infected with a highly infectious pathogen.
The
conference highlighted a discussion on respiratory
protection requirements by Janelle Thelen from MIOSHA. The SPRN team
presented the current
state of the SPRN and the National Ebola Training and Education (NETEC)
resources that are available. Attendees participated in a hands-on
demonstration on the Biocell installation in the back of an ambulance. Biocell is a disposable plastic barrier
system that protects the inside of an ambulance from contamination from a
patient infected with a highly virulent disease. Finally, attendees reviewed
specific EMS
and healthcare facility procedures related to SPRN. In the coming
weeks frequently asked questions will be posted on the SPRN website.
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