When the first Ebola case landed in Atlanta, Americans became alarmed at the potential of contracting this virus. Escalating panic in America has forced the U.S. government and Center for Disease Control (CDC) into damage control. They have issued readiness documents for medical facilities. Assurance that the U.S. medical infrastructure is posted daily on blogs and in social media. Sharing the limited ways of contracting Ebola in the media, social media and the Internet hasn’t laid the fears to rest. In fact, Ebola phobia is escalating among many Americans, and that’s affected plastic surgeons.
If you haven’t received Ebola questions from your patients, there’s a strong likelihood that you will. So, you need to prepare yourself and your staff. Medical spas and plastic surgeons serve people who travel, and contracting the disease while traveling is a major concern among Americans. In addition, cosmetic procedures can place you in contact with bodily fluids, and this is another concern of the general U.S. population.
The CDC says that chances of catching the Ebola virus are small unless you live or care for someone who has the virus. But, your patients who ask questions want answers. Here’s some information to share with your cosmetic procedure or plastic surgery patients:
- Ebola can be a deadly virus inside the body, especially in countries with less than adequate medical care. But, it dies very quickly on surfaces that you touch in your daily life. UV light and oxygen exposure help to deactivate the virus outside the body.
- The CDC says disinfectants such as Lysol, chlorine bleach or other EPA approved disinfectants kill the virus. Explain how your surgery areas and scrubs are disinfected.
- At this point, Ebola is only transmitted through bodily fluids. Yes, the virus can mutate over time and develop new capabilities. However, there’s been no case(s) spread through air.
- The Ebola virus is contagious when someone exhibits symptoms. The first sign of Ebola is typically a high fever, so this is a signal to medical professionals to test before treatment. Plastic surgery procedures are not performed on anyone who has a temperature or exhibits other symptoms of illness.
- U.S. Customs warns against West Africa travel, and border protection agents have been trained to detect Ebola symptoms. Customs are also distributing an Ebola fact sheet to travelers at major airports to help spot symptoms.
- Are plastic surgeons at risk? Certainly, these doctors are at risk as much as the general population in the U.S. Surgeries performed by plastic surgeons are usually elective procedures for patients who are in good health. Statistics don’t show that plastic surgeons are at a greater risk for contracting Ebola.
Not sure how to answer patient questions or train your staff? Our experienced experts can solve your staff training and marketing problems. Contact us to talk about how to overcome the effect of today’s trends on your patients.