I think you take the good with the bad in medicine, and clearly looking
after SARs cases is the bad - but something we have to do. However I
strongly feel that if we are going to do this, we should be doing it in the
full light of the information available and with the appropriate equipment.
Colleagues working in Hong Kong and Singapore, and the CDC are recommending
double gown and gloving and overshoes, seperate anterooms and viral
respirators - as opposed to the M95 masks and no visitors. Our infection
control teams are recommending single gowning and the use of M95 masks and
no overshoes and allowing visitors - and have spent much time and effort
producing special signs for the patients doors.
The very least our employers can do, is spend the money on the best
equipment and implement full infection control protocols, even if it is
expensive - not some half arsed measure.
Im happy to look after SARs patients, but Im not doing it without the
appropriate level of protection. I think this should be made absolutely
clear to those doing the planning.
Craig
>From: Paul Bailey <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: Accident and Emergency Academic List <[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: Charging into the artillery fire : SARS again
>Date: Mon, 28 Apr 2003 14:20:55 +0800
>
>Hi Derek,
>just thought I would share my experience with the list. I work as a staff
>specialist in EM at an urban hospital here in Australia, and a couple of
>weeks ago saw a family of ?SARS cases. Turned out to be influenza A.
>Anyway, the Nurse who saw the patients for a total of about 5 minutes was
>sent home on 10 days 'isolation' leave. I was with the patients for a
>total of about 1hr - hx, exam, taking blood etc (there were 3 of them).
>Anyway, I was told that I wouldn't be sent home on leave because the
>department wouldn't cope without me! Try thinking about that in a logical
>way. Person with least exposure - home. Person with greatest exposure -
>stay.
>
>Best,
>PB
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Derek Sage
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Sent: Monday, April 28, 2003 2:16 PM
> Subject: Charging into the artillery fire : SARS again
>
>
> Has anyone heard of local reluctance by healthcare workers to care for
>SARS cases in view of the tendency for healthcare workers to be the
>victims?
> Even if you set things up for the battle.. how sure of your troops are
>you?
> What is the financial compensation for the relatives / insurance for the
>death of a doctor or nurse infected during the course of their duties
>despite taking precautions?
> Having treated a SARS case would you be happy to shower and go home to
>your family?
> Pessimistic thoughts but these may transpire to be practical problems.
>There is a lot of psychology involved.
> I would be interested to get folks thoughts on these issues.
>
> Thanks
> Derek
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