“We are in close contact with the CDC and the Metropolitan Medical Response System to ensure that our personnel are following these guidelines as they change,” she said. “For instance, we implemented specific travel-related screening at the point of a 911 call, and we have changed our requirements for personal protective equipment, as recommended by the CDC. The appropriate personnel have all been trained in the proper donning and doffing of the equipment and patient care procedures.”

Dr. Jeffrey Goodloe, the medical director for the state Office of the Medical Director and the Medical Control Board, said protocols are in place on how EMSA paramedics decide where to take patients.

“EMSA’s transport protocol for infectious disease is to transport per the patient’s hospital destination preference,” he said in a statement Friday. “If the patient has no preference, the medic may often inquire about the patient’s primary care physician and/or specialty physician and if such physician(s) have given the patient direction as to which hospital(s) to utilize.

“If the patient has no destination preference and has no established physicians with such prior advice, then a geographical rotation of hospitals is utilized.”

Although no change has been made in the destination selection process, “early notification is encouraged to allow emergency departments to take any actions deemed appropriate prior to ambulance arrival,” he said.

Kendrick Marshall 918-581-8386 kendrick.marshall@tulsaworld.com

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