Ebola – Closing the Gate after the Cows are Out

PolitiChicks.comActions taken by the inept leadership of our country, the CDC and local healthcare officials to eradicate the spread of the Ebola virus remind me of the old adage about “closing the gate after the cows are out”.

I live in Northeast Texas approximately 180 miles from Presbyterian Hospital. But at one time in my life I lived about 3 blocks from there. That part of Dallas is literally a mecca of apartments, restaurants, shopping and nightlife. As most Americans I take the Ebola threat seriously. As a Texan, living less than 3 hours from the center of the current controversy, I worry about the effect on friends and family who live much closer. In other words, this just got personal.

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Due to a recently injured shoulder I had to have an MRI today. The FIRST thing I was asked when I approached the registration desk (even before they asked for my money) was to reply verbally to and sign an Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) Screening. There were two areas each requiring a yes or no answer. It was written as follows.

Ebola Screening for Patient Isolation/Testing are likely to be:

Yes or No   Fever, headache, joint and muscle aches, weakness, fatigue, diarrhea, vomiting, stomach pain and lack of appetite and in some cases bleeding.

Yes or No   Travel to West Africa (Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone or other countries where EVD transmission has been reported by WHO) within 21 days (3 weeks) of symptom onset.

If both criteria are met, then the patient should be moved to a private room with a bathroom and standard, contact, and droplet precautions followed during further assessment.

Immediately report person under Investigation for Ebola to nursing supervisor and infection prevention

While I had no problem with the “cursory” evaluation, I also saw no benefit. Once again this administration has put a Band-Aid on a bleeding artery and expects us to sleep well at night. And, people still wonder why Texans want to build a fence…

Patti Barnett Terrell

Patti Barnett Terrell has conservative roots that grow deep in the heart of East Texas. In 1977 she earned a degree in Computer Science and Mathematics. Patti is retired from her position as the civilian director of a large Army Information Technology organization. Patti and her husband, Larry, had the honor of working for former Governor Mike Huckabee in his reelection campaigns by photographing fundraisers. They were also honored to meet the late, great actor and political activist Charlton Heston when he was campaigning for the Governor. For a recent birthday, Larry gave Patti a dinner with Lt. Col. Allen West. The ensuing PolitiChicks article she wrote was picked up by Lt. Col. West's web site as well as several other conservative sites and viewed by thousands. Patti is active in her local area by working elections and attending meet and greet political events. She is a huge advocate of the 2nd amendment, is rarely unarmed, and has strong opinions re gun control laws. Patti and Larry live in Texarkana, TX. They both believe in traveling as much as you can, as far as you can, as long as you can, but Texas will always be home.

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