General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsThese are the folks that many DUers have called incompetent:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2014/10/16/meet-the-disease-detectives-trying-to-stop-the-spread-of-ebola/"Did you also know that there are disease detectives?" she told the Senate. "Many people don't know that there are disease detectives." She went on. "Sometimes there is an outbreak and people get sick. People even die. They wonder what it is. They dial 911, and there is a group of people who are like a disease identification SWAT team. They work with the best and brightest at that state level, use the best technology in science from our country, and even around the world, to identify what that is."
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They get out a lot; the EIS calls its members "shoe leather epidemiologists" for a reason. The service brags that it can send out agents, anywhere in the world, in hours.
The EIS logo is actually a worn shoe.
The EIS program is a postdoctoral fellowship that lasts two years -- any more contact with infectious diseases seems to be tempting fate -- and is usually a launching pad to big gigs in public health and medical thought. The CDC's current director, Tom Frieden, began his career with EIS. Lawrence Altman, who writes about medicine for the New York Times, described his former gig as an EIS officer on the program's 50th anniversary.
As epidemiologists, we acted as part scientists, historians, sleuths, statisticians and journalists, relying on people's willingness and memories to tell what happened to them, their relatives and friends.
They've been on the edge of our discussion of public health and mass illness-induced hysteria for a long time. For the past 63 years, in fact. In 1951, the United States Public Health Service, the CDC's former title, set up a staff of 21 medical officers in 21 states, assigned to play defense if the Cold War downgraded from detente to biological warfare. Military leaders were worried that biological weapons would be used against American soldiers in the Korean War.
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tridim
(45,358 posts)100% of the time, even DU'ers tend call for immediate firings and/or blame the White House.
It's a pathetic and dangerous reaction.
Think, please.
LawDeeDah
(1,596 posts)but if anyone is looking for perfection in a person in any walk of life or profession, they are never going to find it in this world.
Blue_Adept
(6,402 posts)A lot of them are acting like fearful conservatives over something in their reactions to it.
alarimer
(16,245 posts)I think they're being made out to be the scapegoat here.
The CDC has no enforcement authority for hospitals, as far as I know, so their advice is jut that, advice. Doesn't mean anyone will follow it.
I guess the director will be thrown under the bus and fired or asked to resign, but I think that's kind of dumb really.
The empressof all
(29,098 posts)It is my understanding that the CDC sets guidelines and standards but it is up to each individual states' Department of Health to provide regulation and compliance oversight.
Presbyterian Hospitals compliance with infection control standards was under the purview of the State of Texas not the Federal Govt.
KittyWampus
(55,894 posts)here at our small family business in NY.
There may be Federal Agencies issuing guidelines, information and even funding… but ultimately each state is responsible for setting standards and enforcing them… or not.
kestrel91316
(51,666 posts)completely anonymous for a number of reasons. This person is a long time DUer and is pretty appalled at the hatred of epidemiology professionals displayed here on DU and cannot bring him/herself to start in on the debate because it wouldn't end well.
This person thanked me for trying to stem the tide of ignorance.
ZombieHorde
(29,047 posts)Seems weird that she was told flying was fine. I know that wasn't the EIS, and I don't expect people to be 100% correct 100% of the time, but I still hope that is investigated.
kestrel91316
(51,666 posts)The travel restrictions kick in at 100.5F. If that was what the CDC employee had to go on, we're got ZERO business criticizing them. Sounds like the phone staff didn't get told that higher ups had changed the criteria.
ZombieHorde
(29,047 posts)is the same as criticizing. I don't want anyone punished, but there is a chance that additional training may be a good idea.
kestrel91316
(51,666 posts)ZombieHorde
(29,047 posts)I work in healthcare. We have little meetings almost every day because conditions regularly change. Communication, training, meetings. These should be everyday things. Healthcare doesn't function well without regular communication to everyone involved.
kestrel91316
(51,666 posts)They are shoe leather epidemiologists.
