NYC Health + Hospitals, a leading municipal healthcare system in the United States, recently undertook a simulation exercise to appraise the effectiveness of a portable isolation unit, specifically tailored for rapid deployment during infectious disease emergencies. This simulation was centered around setting up the unit swiftly, securely isolating a ‘simulated’ adult patient diagnosed with Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), and adhering to invigorating infection control protocols for highly contagious airborne diseases. This exercise mirrors a real-life scenario where a patient potentially exposes himself to MERS risk factors, including close interactions with camels and ingesting unpasteurized camel milk, and reports to the Emergency Department at NYC Health + Hospitals\/South Brooklyn Health with symptoms of fever, cough, and shortness of breath subsequent to a recent trip to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The simulation was designed to assess the team’s ability to deploy promptly and manage a portable isolation unit, which is a temporary lodging arrangement to host patients when the hospital’s permanent isolation units reach full capacity. The overarching aim was to evaluate the unit’s viability as a practical and functional tool in real-world situations, particularly for managing patients infected with special pathogens. Useful insights were gained on nasopharyngeal and sputum specimens collection for diagnostic testing.
MERS, a respiratory ailment, is primarily caused by a coronavirus first detected in Saudi Arabia in 2012. While instances of human infections are relatively infrequent and mostly associated with travel to the Middle East, the disease can lead to severe pneumonia and has a high fatality rate.
This simulation exercise is a byproduct of a collaborative relationship between the NYC Health + Hospitals System Biopreparedness Program and NYC Health + Hospitals\/South Brooklyn Health. The program closely liaises with facilities across the healthcare system to trial test new tools, technologies, and procedures with frontline clinical teams.
Dr. Syra Madad, Chief Biopreparedness Officer, NYC Health + Hospitals, stated that these types of simulations are integral for testing new equipment, aiding care teams in exercising their skills in non-traditional infrastructures, and remained invaluable for enhancing the performance of the team. The overall objective is always to optimize preparedness for situations demanding management of highly contagious diseases like MERS-CoV. The portable isolation unit’s capabilities of creating a negative-pressure isolation environment and being operational within 20 minutes were verified successfully during the exercise, emphasizing its crucial role in managing infectious disease emergencies.