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The College of Urgent Care Medicine’s (CUCM) Clinical Response Committee recently collaborated with representatives from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to discuss Ebola preparedness. Even though no cases of Ebola have been confirmed in the United States, CDC is responsible for advanced public health preparation and mitigation strategies should any Ebola cases be identified. According to CUCM, the discussion between the federal agency and College’s committee is significant because it underscores the pivotal role of urgent care in the nation’s healthcare system while recognizing the expertise of CUCM members in responding to emerging public health concerns. Urgent care’s role is especially important considering that urgent care centers are often the front door to the healthcare system, where they are in a position to lead early identification of possible Ebola cases, triage, and coordination with public health agencies.
Helpful resources: CUCM offers updated resources, including a summary response, specific urgent care recommendations for identification and isolation of Ebola patients, and state and federal health department contact information. Find the resources on the CUCM Clinical Response Best Practices webpage.
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