Providence partners with local agencies for emergency preparedness exercise

March 10, 2023 Providence News Team

In March Providence held an interactive, multi-agency drill enhancing the region’s readiness to care for patients with highly infectious diseases.

The training held in Spokane was important for testing and reviewing systems, protocols, and partnerships critical to a collaborative, coordinated response.

The two-day exercise focused on two simulated patients who traveled from Uganda and presented at MultiCare hospitals in the Spokane area with Ebola symptoms. American Medical Response (AMR) then safely transferred the patients to Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center and Children’s Hospital Special Pathogens Unit (SPU) where a group of highly specialized health care experts continued their care.

“As COVID-19 reminded us, infectious diseases pose a significant threat,” said Christa Arguinchona, Providence Special Pathogens Unit manager. “Our community is safer because Providence and other organizations work together to plan and prepare for a variety of situations.”

The Providence SPU is one of 13 federally funded and designated Regional Emerging Special Pathogen Treatment Centers in the country. These facilities can manage highly infectious diseases, such as Ebola. This biocontainment isolation unit is staffed by highly trained health care providers and medical experts who ensure our ability to safely identify, isolate and treat patients with infectious disease.

Providence works closely with the Washington Department of Health, Spokane Regional Health District, AMR, and other regional medical facilities to be continuously ready to care for patients with highly infectious diseases across a four-state region, ensuring the health and safety of our community.

Organizations who participated in the March training include:

• Providence

• American Medical Response

• Spokane Regional Health District

• MultiCare

• Washington State Department of Health

• Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response Region 10

• National Emerging Special Pathogen Training and Education Center (NETEC)

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