California Hospitals Prepare For Possible Ebola Cases

California state officials say University of California medical centers are positioned to treat Ebola patients should cases appear here. 

But they say all hospitals are expected to be able to screen, identify and isolate potential Ebola patients.

Hospitals say they are preparing workers for such a development.

Kaiser Permanente Northern California says it has been planning since before a possible case in South Sacramento in August. The patient tested negative.

"We have procured the equipment, we have distributed to the  medical centers and we’ve ensured that it’s at the ready should a patient arrive," says Dr. Steven Parodi, Director of Kaiser Permanente Northern California Hospital Operations.

"We’ve asked every medical center to have individuals who are specially trained to handle this equipment," says Parodi.

Parodi says most Kaiser Permanente facilities have been doing simulation drills with health care workers. 

"For example in the emergency department in each of the individuals who are going to be involved in the care of that patient actually goes through the motions of taking care of that individual. And putting on the personal protective equipment, taking it off.”

Parodi says training is based on events in West Africa and new guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control.