The Department of Health and Human Services has selected the California Department of Public Health as a regional treatment center to receive $3.25 million through fiscal year 2019 to help treat people who have been diagnosed with highly infectious diseases.The state department will collaborate with Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles to serve patients in the Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada and the Pacific island territories, HHS said Tuesday.
The health facility is the final component of a regional network that aims to prevent infectious disease outbreaks.
“With all of the regional facilities in place, our nation’s healthcare infrastructure will be better prepared for future outbreaks of Ebola and other special pathogens, especially those requiring a high level of biocontainment and specialized infection control,†said Nicole Lurie, HHS assistant secretary for preparedness and response.
The California Department of Public Health will use the funding to maintain the regional treatment center’s facilities to care for patients infected with Ebola and other infectious diseases.
The facility will also accept patients within eight hours of being notified, treat at least two patients at the same, maintain a respiratory infectious disease isolation system or negative pressure rooms, perform trainings and exercises and undergo an annual readiness assessment from the National Ebola Training and Education Center.
