At Bellevue Hospital in Manhattan, the 5-year-old child who was admitted and tested negative for Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), is being discharged today, according to hospital officials. Lab results confirmed the patient had a respiratory illness that was treated. The patient requires no further hospitalization but will be actively monitored along with his mother and one other sibling, as they have returned from Guinea within the last 21 days.
It is also reported that Doctors without Borders physician with Ebola, Dr. Craig Spencer status remains the same. Bellevue officials say Dr. Spencer is in serious but stable condition.
In Albany, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced today that two additional hospitals – Erie County Medical Center (ECMC) and Women and Children’s Hospital of Buffalo (WCHOB) in Western New York – have agreed to be designated to treat potential patients with Ebola, bringing the total number of hospitals statewide with this designation to ten.
“Today we are continuing to err on the side of caution in order to protect the public’s health and safety,” Governor Cuomo said. “In joining the eight other designated Ebola treatment centers across the State, these two hospitals are further bolstering our level of preparedness here in New York. As we continuing to expand the list of designated treatment centers to ensure geographic diversity, New Yorkers should rest assured that we are doing everything necessary to safeguard against the risks of Ebola.”
The list of 10 is as follows:
- Bellevue in Manhattan
- Erie County Medical Center
- Montefiore in the Bronx
- Mt. Sinai in Manhattan
- New York Presbyterian in Manhattan
- North Shore Health System in Nassau County
- Upstate University Hospital in Syracuse
- University of Rochester Medical Center in Rochester
- Stony Brook University Hospital on Long Island
- Women and Children’s Hospital of Buffalo
Hello, I want to know how the doctor is doing. I see he is stable but serious. What does that mean? Does he have a good chance of pulling through? I have been praying for him and hoping that he wasn’t experiencing as much discomfort as I have heard this disease can bring on. Please let me know if you can with you reply, Sincerely, Paul Wentink
Thank you, Paul, for asking what I think is the right question: How’s Dr. Spencer doing? All we hear are accusations and anger toward this terribly sick and innocent man who has risked his life to help people who have no other help than the self-sacrificing people like Dr. Spencer. It’s clear he did not pose a health threat as he moved around the city — he had no symptoms. Let’s thank him for his service and selflessness and wish him a swift recovery. Thank you.
Doctor Spencer went to West Africa to help, but his actions upon return were not heroic. 13% of all Ebola patients during this current outbreak do not have fever as an early symptom, so Dr. Spencer was wrong to travel about as he did in NYC knowing this fact from a WHO study. Going to Africa to help does not give anyone the right to avoid quarantine once they return.
The U.S. Army is quarantining every soldier regardless of rank who has been and is in Liberia doing logistics work. They aren’t even in contact with Ebola patients yet are in quarantine. The right move by the Army. Even California has new quarantine guidelines for those who return form treating Ebola patients.
D J: Dr. Spencer was not exhibiting any Ebola symptoms when he was out ( not infective or contagious). When he did become symptomatic, he called authorities who transported him to isolation at the hospital, not exposing any of the public to him. When Dr. Spencer left for West Africa, the protocol did not require quarantine upon his return, it called for self monitoring(which he was doing). By threatening all our returning healthcare workers with quarantine upon their return, like you seem to think is warranted, will only inhibit the thousands of VOLUNTEER healthcare workers we need to go to West Africa to help stop Ebola epidemic at its source. These courageous healthcare workers are already giving up a chunk of their lives to go. They are going in our place because most of us are not able to. They’re to be praised not villified, hated and penalized.
Jeff- You think you are correcting Paul’s wording and proceed on totally missing his question. Very ignorant of you if you ask me.
HIPAA Updated Guidelines for Releasing Information on the Condition of Patients (provided by the American Hospital Association)
• Undetermined – Patient is awaiting physician and/or assessment.
• Good – Vital signs are stable and within normal limits. Patient is conscious and comfortable. Indicators are excellent.
• Fair – Vital signs are stable and within normal limits. Patient is conscious, but may be uncomfortable. Indicators are favorable.
• Serious – Vital signs may be unstable and not within normal limits. Patient is acutely ill. Indicators are questionable.
• Critical – Vital signs are unstable and not within normal limits. Patient may be unconscious. Indicators are unfavorable.
Stable means just that, stable: he isn’t becoming Critical nor is his condition improving to Fair.
Hello Bellevue Hospital, I want to know how my Doctor, Dr Spencer is doing. Please give me good information. I don’t want to hear “serious condition but stable”. I want to hear that he is doing very well, then he is ready to go home. He is the BEST!!!. He is OUR BABY. I’m very proud of him. Thanks!
Hello Bellevue Hospital, please let me know how Dr Spencer is doing and give me a positive answer. Also, take care of him carefully. Thanks!