ACEP meeting spotlights Ebola preparedness

In October 2001, the American College of Emergency Physicians met in Chicago amid widespread anxiety over the state of emergency preparedness. The U.S. at the time was reeling from the 9/11 attacks and anthrax fears.

This week, the ACEP meets in Chicago amid another national crisis, this time involving an infectious disease fatal in a majority of cases. Three sessions have been scheduled to discuss the appropriate clinical response to the Ebola virus.

The goal is to help emergency physicians “prepare for whatever is coming through their door,” said Bobby Heard, ACEP's associate executive director for membership and education.

One major attraction will be a mock 10,000-square-foot emergency department demonstrating how ED teams can handle mass casualty events while also providing critical care to individuals suffering strokes or heart attacks. Other presentations include the latest emergency medicine research.

Other programs will discuss the impact of healthcare reform, new payment models and electronic health records on emergency doctors.

Follow Andis Robeznieks on Twitter: @MHARobeznieks