When the Dallas County Sheriff Deputy who entered the apartment of the first Ebola patient to die of the virus in the U.S. started to feel ill himself, the first place he opted to go an urgent care clinic as opposed to a hospital emergency room.
Additionally, a man who recently visited West Africa began complaining of severe flu-like symptoms also visited an urgent care facility seeking treatment, prompting the facility to briefly close.
The two nurses who contracted the deadly Ebola virus while caring for the Dallas patient, who have no since recovered, have drawn debate of how the virus was transmitted from patient to nurses who were covered in protective gear. Since that time, debates over the infectious disease protocols of America hospitals has come under fire. However, hospitals are not the only healthcare facilities who are now on the front lines of fighting Ebola.
In fact, several urgent care centers in the Dallas area have taken measures to prepare themselves to treat patients exhibiting and suffering from Ebola-like symptoms, including high fever, abdominal pain, and vomiting. Urgent care clinics in the Dallas area and beyond have stocked up on additional hazardous material gear, such as respirators, gloves, and face shields, in addition to preparing designed quarantine spaces.
The role of urgent care clinics in the American healthcare systems is a vital. They continue to bridge the gap between hospital emergency rooms and doctor’s offices. However, urgent care services focus on the evaluation and treatment of acutely arising illnesses and injuries. Therefore, many are not equipped to handle highly infectious diseases such as Ebola. As a result, clinics are urging patients to seek treatment at hospital if they fear they have come in contact with the virus.