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Essential Hospitals Prepare Doctors to Diagnose, Treat Measles

Essential hospitals have been on the front lines of the Ebola outbreak, and now hospitals are working to protect patients against another viral threat – measles.

Because the measles were believed to have been eliminated in 2000, many younger doctors have never seen a case. After the recent outbreak that originated at Disneyland in December, older, more experienced staff at essential hospitals like Olive View-UCLA Medical Center in Sylmar, California, are now using every opportunity to educate younger doctors about the highly contagious respiratory disease.

Doctors are sharing their knowledge at daily huddles, and the hospital is posting signs, distributing instructional flyers to staff, and sending emails to make sure staff recognize the disease’s symptoms.

“None of us is going to see [measles] very commonly, but part of our training is looking for those things we don’t see very often,” said Greg Moran, MD, Olive View’s interim chief of emergency medicine, according to KPCC 89.3.

The measles usually starts with a fever, runny nose, cough, red eyes, and sore throat and leads to a rash that spreads all over the body. The measles can also lead to other serious complications, including pneumonia, brain swelling, and death.

102 people from 14 states, including California, Arizona, Illinois,Texas, and Washington, were reported to have the measles between Jan. 1 and Jan. 30, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

How is your hospital teaching doctors about the measles? Share with us in the comments below.

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