Learning from Ebola: Interprofessional practice in the Nebraska Biocontainment Unit

Katelyn C Jelden; Philip W Smith; Michelle M Schwedhelm; Shawn G Gibbs; John J Lowe; Elizabeth L Beam; Christopher J Kratochvil; Kathleen C Boulter; Angela L Hewlett

doi:10.1016/j.xjep.2015.07.071

Learning from Ebola: Interprofessional practice in the Nebraska Biocontainment Unit

J Interprof Educ Pract. 2015 Dec;1(3):97-99. doi: 10.1016/j.xjep.2015.07.071. Epub 2015 Aug 17.

Authors

Katelyn C Jelden^{1

2}, Philip W Smith^{2

3}, Michelle M Schwedhelm^{2

4}, Shawn G Gibbs^{1

2

5}, John J Lowe^{1

2}, Elizabeth L Beam^{2

6}, Christopher J Kratochvil^{2

7}, Kathleen C Boulter², Angela L Hewlett^{2

3}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Environmental, Agricultural & Occupational Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA.
² Nebraska Biocontainment Unit, Nebraska Medicine, Omaha, NE 68198, USA.
³ Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA.
⁴ Emergency Preparedness & Infection Prevention, Nebraska Medicine, Omaha, NE 68198, USA.
⁵ Department of Environmental Health, Indiana University School of Public Health, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA.
⁶ College of Nursing, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA.
⁷ Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA.

Abstract

Caring for patients with Ebola virus disease (EVD) in the Nebraska Biocontainment Unit (NBU) has necessitated and enabled extensive interprofessional relationships and the creation of a collaborative care model. Critical aspects of NBU functionality include a constructive leadership environment, staff inclusion and consideration during protocol development, and a culture of partnership and communication.