Training for emergencies: Simulated suspected Ebola case at Medical University of Graz
Highly contagious and life-threatening diseases, such as Ebola virus infections, are rare, but require utmost attention and expertise in an emergency.
Any suspected case of high risk of infection represents an interdisciplinary emergency and requires precisely coordinated cooperation between rescue services, emergency services, authorities, transport companies and all persons involved.
In order to train the procedures for such a high-infection case, an emergency physician refresher course was recently held in cooperation with “MED ON BOARD - Medical Biodefense” on the campus of the Medical University of Graz.
The participants were challenged to cope with a great deal – working in various protective equipment, various decontamination procedures, and the transport and transfer of infectious patients – the exercise, under the trained eyes of the trainers, covered a broad spectrum of skills and knowledge to refresh and expand the qualifications of the participants.
The Medical University of Graz offered ideal training conditions for this special form of multi-professional training. The participants, mostly emergency physicians and paramedics, had to actively treat several medical emergencies related to a potentially highly infectious disease, simulated at the Clinical Skills Center, and organize themselves independently within the teams.
The course participants were also able to gain special insights into the high-security laboratory of the Diagnostic & Research Institute for Pathology as well as basic knowledge of the necessary safety mechanisms of such a biosafety environment.
For two highly professional emergency teams, the Styrian Red Cross High Infection Transport Team and the Lower Austria Special Infection Control and Support Unit, the practical exercises provided an ideal opportunity to train with various equipment and optimize technical procedures. They were also optimally integrated into medical care. The entire scenario demonstrated the importance of ongoing training to ensure effective cooperation and the best possible patient care in an emergency.
In the final exercise, the entire operational chain was seamlessly rehearsed, from suspected cases and diagnosis through isolation and decontamination, to transport and intensive medical treatment in a mobile isolation unit.
Various stakeholders who evaluated the training, including the Graz Fire Department, were impressed by the consistently successful exercise.
"MED ON BOARD – Clinical Skills Emergency Training" courses are held regularly at Medical University of Graz. Further information and registration are available at: https://med-on-board.com/pages/termine-und-buchung .