Sioux Falls, S.D. (AP) An infectious disease consultant for a regional health system says the infection of a Dallas nurse caring for an ebola patient was a wake-up call for hospitals to be more prepared.
Dr. Wendall Hoffman says Sanford Health has improved its ability to respond to the virus over the past couple of weeks by asking questions about patient travel and educating staff on personal protective equipment. Training drills are also in the works.
He says if an infected person were to be identified, they would be transferred to a hospital with a higher level of care. But Hoffman says Sanford is gearing up to be able to treat people through the extent of their illness.
Sanford operates clinics and hospitals in South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa and Nebraska.