DoD to train HHS medical support team

The Department of Defense will assemble an expeditionary medical support team which, if needed, can provide short-notice assistance to civilian medical professionals in the United States.

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel ordered his Northern Command Commander General Chuck Jacoby to being developing this team as a response to a request from HHS as an "added prudent measure" in the event of additional Ebola cases in the United States.

The 30-person team will consist of 20 critical care nurses, five infectious disease physicians and five infectious disease protocol trainers.

The team will then be sent to Fort Sam Houston in Texas for a week of specialized training in infection control and personal protective equipment provided by the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases.

The experts will be in a "prepare to deploy" status for 30 days, sent to locations as required. They will not be sent overseas.

More articles on Ebola:

How Texas Health Presbyterian altered its EHR after initially missing Ebola diagnosis
CDC to revise PPE protocol for Ebola
Industry works to ensure EHRs help, not hinder, Ebola diagnoses

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