Wiesner Lauren, Flinn Jade, Brewer Brooke, Resnick Aaron, Carrasco Sharon Vanairsdale, Garibaldi Brian T, Wohl David A, Little Bethany, Schnell Natalie A, Wortmann Glenn, DeAtley Craig, Kappler Shane B, Fischer William A
Lauren Wiesner, MD, is Chair, Department of Emergency Medicine; Aaron Resnick, MA, is Program Director, Biocontainment Unit; Bethany Little, BSN, RN, NHDP-BC, is Nursing Operations Director and Training and Education Coordinator, Biocontainment Unit; Glenn Wortmann, MD, is Section Director, Infectious Diseases; Craig DeAtley, PA-C, is Director, Institute for Public Health Emergency Readiness; and Shane B. Kappler, MD, MS, FACEP, is Medical Director, Biocontainment Unit; all at MedStar Washington Hospital Center, Washington, DC. Lauren Wiesner is also an Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine; Glenn Wortmann is also a Professor of Clinical Medicine (Infectious Diseases); and Shane B. Kappler is also an Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine and Microbiology and Immunology; all at Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC. Jade Flinn, MSN, RN, CCRN, CNRN, is Director of Operations, Johns Hopkins Special Pathogens Center, and Brian T. Garibaldi, MD, MEHP, FACP, FRCP(E), was Director, Johns Hopkins Special Pathogens Center, and Director, Johns Hopkins Biocontainment Unit; all at The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD. Brooke Brewer, RN, MS, CIC, is Program Manager, Infection Prevention; Natalie A. Schnell, BSN, RN, R-BC, CIC, is an Infection Prevention Nurse Educator; and David A. Wohl, MD, and William A. Fischer II, MD, are Co-Directors; all at the Special Pathogen Response Center, Region 4 Emerging Special Pathogen Treatment Center, University of North Carolina Hospitals, Chapel Hill, NC. William A. Fischer II is also Director of Emerging Pathogens, Institute for Global Health and Infectious Diseases, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC. Sharon Vanairsdale Carrasco, DNP, APRN, ACNS-BC, NP-C, CEN, FAEN, FAAN, is an Associate Professor, Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, Emory University, and Program Director, Region 4 Ebola and Other Special Pathogens Treatment Center, Emory University Hospital/Children's Healthcare of Atlanta; both in Atlanta, GA.
Health Secur. 2024 Sep;22(S1):S66-S75. doi: 10.1089/hs.2023.0163. Epub 2024 Aug 21.
In response to the growing number of outbreaks of emerging infectious diseases, the US Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) has embarked on a plan to improve and expand special pathogen patient care capabilities. To achieve this, ASPR is developing a coordinated network of Regional Emerging Special Pathogen Treatment Centers (RESPTCs) to serve as state-of-the-art facilities staffed by a highly trained workforce to care for and manage special pathogen patients across the lifespan. The RESPTC network represents the operational arm of a broader US National Special Pathogen System of care to prevent and prepare for the next infectious disease outbreak. RESPTCs are strategically located in every region across the country and form a network linking local and regional healthcare partners to enhance national preparedness through training in best practices for detection, isolation, and treatment of individuals suspected of or known to be infected with a special pathogen. This local, regional, and national network is also designed to lead a coordinated response that includes the dissemination of accurate and trustworthy information to responders and the public. The overarching goal of the RESPTCs is to serve as a valuable resource for clinical care, training, and material support to meet current and future major infectious diseases challenges. In this case study, 2 new RESPTCs, MedStar Washington Hospital Center and the University of North Carolina, describe their experiences related to designing a biocontainment unit, creating clinical teams, building staff resiliency, receiving mentoring from regional RESPTC partners, and developing opportunities for innovation.
