Other Titles
System-Wide High-Level PPE Training Across Hospital Points of Entry: A High-Consequence Infectious Disease Readiness and PPE Standardization Model [Poster Title]
Abstract
Introduction: High-consequence infectious diseases (HCIDs) are defined as novel or reemerging pathogens with person-to-person spread, few medical countermeasures, and high mortality rates. Examples include: Middle East respiratory syndrome, novel influenza, and viral hemorrhagic fevers. HCIDs require rapid identification, isolation, and specialized care to prevent outbreaks. As of July, 2024, U.S. hospitals accredited by The Joint Commission (TJC) have updated HCID infection-control standards to maintain operational readiness. Expectations include: identify, isolate, inform protocols, HCID waste-management, and HCID personal protective equipment (PPE) competency. Given the recent global pandemic and ongoing regional HCID outbreaks, updated TJC standards will strengthen HCID preparedness. The Serious Communicable Diseases Unit (SCDU) at Emory University Hospital is a high-level isolation unit where four patients with Ebola virus were treated in 2014. SCDU nurses are unique subject matter experts in HCID readiness.
Methods: The SCDU developed a novel readiness training model to disseminate across Emory Healthcare's eleven-hospital system to strengthen HCID readiness. SCDU nurse subject matter experts delivered training. In line with TJC standards, training included interdisciplinary HCID scope, standardized PPE protocols and supply carts, novel just-in-time (JIT) digital training resources, and waste protocols. The readiness model was evaluated on attendance metrics and trainee competency. To evaluate individual competency, two methods were used. Firstly, assessment of trainee's ability to safely don and doff HCID PPE. Second, a Likert-scale self-assessment survey was to evaluate trainee competency. Trainees were physicians, advance-practice providers, nurses, respiratory therapists, infection preventionist, and laboratorians.
Results: To date, 140 frontline staff across emergency departments, labor & delivery, and clinical laboratories have completed HCID training at four Emory Healthcare hospitals. Interim review shows higher competency, improved readiness, and adoption of standardized resources. Formal evaluation and continued implementation are ongoing.
Conclusion: Nurse led interdisciplinary HCID training strengthens HCID readiness at hospital points of entry. Standardized PPE protocols improve front line staff competency. Interdisciplinary scope and uniform training provide a scalable framework for large healthcare systems seeking to strengthen HCID readiness.
Notes
References:
Persson, C., Levine, C. B., Marshall, K., Shea, S., Arguinchona, C., Carrasco, S. V., Sauer, L. M., & Herstein, J. J. (2025). Building a biocontainment unit: Infrastructure and organizational experiences of the 13 regional biocontainment units in the United States. American journal of infection control, 53(1), 150–153. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajic.2024.06.021
Flinn, J. B., Arguinchona, C. L., Vasa, A., Carrasco, S. V., Agreiter, I., Boxnick, S., Stadtmann, B., & Tennill, P. A. (2024). Frontline leadership: Nurses in special pathogenspreparedness and response. Health Security, 22(S1), S131–S135. https://doi.org/10.1089/hs.2023.0149
Lukowski J, Vasa A, Arguinchona C, ElRayes W, Frank MG, Galdys AL, Garcia MC, Garland JA, Kline S, Persson C, Ruby D, Sauer LM, Vasistha S, Carrasco S, Herstein JJ. A narrative review of high-level isolation unit operational and infrastructure features. BMJ Glob Health. 2023 Jul;8(7):e012037. doi: 10.1136/bmjgh-2023-012037
Stern KL, Sauer LM, Arguinchona C, Dunning J, ElRayes W, Lim PL, Vasoo S, Herstein JJ. Global High-Consequence Infectious Disease Readiness and Response: An Inventory of High-Level Isolation Units. Health Security. 2024 Nov-Dec;22(6):422-428. doi: 10.1089/hs.2023.0168
Herstein, J. J., Lukowski, J., ElRayes, W., Lowe, J. J., Mehta, A. K., Mukherjee, V., Stern, K. L., Carrasco, S. V., Vasa, A., Vasistha, S., & Sauer, L. M. (2024). High-level isolation: A landscape analysis of global capabilities and opportunities to advance the field. Health Security, 22(S1), S17–S33. https://doi.org/10.1089/hs.2023.0181
Sigma Membership
Non-member
Type
Poster
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
Other
Research Approach
Other
Keywords:
Public and Community Health, Competence, Interprofessional and Interdisciplinary, Communicable Diseases, Preparedness
Recommended Citation
Chapman, Andrew, "System-Wide High-Consequence Infectious Diseases Readiness Model" (2026). International Nursing Research Congress (INRC). 126.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/inrc/2026/posters_2026/126
Conference Name
37th International Nursing Research Congress
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Conference Year
2026
Rights Holder
All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record. All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository. All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.
Review Type
Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
Date of Issue
2026-09-29
System-Wide High-Consequence Infectious Diseases Readiness Model
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Introduction: High-consequence infectious diseases (HCIDs) are defined as novel or reemerging pathogens with person-to-person spread, few medical countermeasures, and high mortality rates. Examples include: Middle East respiratory syndrome, novel influenza, and viral hemorrhagic fevers. HCIDs require rapid identification, isolation, and specialized care to prevent outbreaks. As of July, 2024, U.S. hospitals accredited by The Joint Commission (TJC) have updated HCID infection-control standards to maintain operational readiness. Expectations include: identify, isolate, inform protocols, HCID waste-management, and HCID personal protective equipment (PPE) competency. Given the recent global pandemic and ongoing regional HCID outbreaks, updated TJC standards will strengthen HCID preparedness. The Serious Communicable Diseases Unit (SCDU) at Emory University Hospital is a high-level isolation unit where four patients with Ebola virus were treated in 2014. SCDU nurses are unique subject matter experts in HCID readiness.
Methods: The SCDU developed a novel readiness training model to disseminate across Emory Healthcare's eleven-hospital system to strengthen HCID readiness. SCDU nurse subject matter experts delivered training. In line with TJC standards, training included interdisciplinary HCID scope, standardized PPE protocols and supply carts, novel just-in-time (JIT) digital training resources, and waste protocols. The readiness model was evaluated on attendance metrics and trainee competency. To evaluate individual competency, two methods were used. Firstly, assessment of trainee's ability to safely don and doff HCID PPE. Second, a Likert-scale self-assessment survey was to evaluate trainee competency. Trainees were physicians, advance-practice providers, nurses, respiratory therapists, infection preventionist, and laboratorians.
Results: To date, 140 frontline staff across emergency departments, labor & delivery, and clinical laboratories have completed HCID training at four Emory Healthcare hospitals. Interim review shows higher competency, improved readiness, and adoption of standardized resources. Formal evaluation and continued implementation are ongoing.
Conclusion: Nurse led interdisciplinary HCID training strengthens HCID readiness at hospital points of entry. Standardized PPE protocols improve front line staff competency. Interdisciplinary scope and uniform training provide a scalable framework for large healthcare systems seeking to strengthen HCID readiness.
Description
High-consequence infectious diseases (HCIDs) are rare but pose serious risk at hospital points of entry. Nurses have a critical role in the care of HCIDs. In line with newly updated Joint Commission standards for HCIDs, the Serious Communicable Disease Unit within Emory Healthcare developed a standardized and scalable HCID readiness model. Interim review of nurse led training shows higher competency and improved readiness. Formal evaluation is ongoing.