At the NIH Clinical Center, they had the technologist in the patient's room operating the X-ray exposure and directing the nurse in manipulating the detector, but having no direct contact with the patient.

"Since the need for X-rays are expected to be infrequent, the advantage is lack of need for nurses or physicians to focus on radiology equipment," Bluemke said. "The potential disadvantage is an additional person, who has less experience than the Ebola virus doctors and nurses, entering the isolation unit."


In both cases, the hospitals used portable X-ray machines that stayed on the unit, in dedicated equipment storage areas. While the machines can be wiped down and disinfected, there are small crevices that are inaccessible to surface cleaning, are so the machines can't be used on patients elsewhere in the hospital. For similar reasons, CT and MRI equipment are not designed at all for imaging of patients with Ebola.

Both Bluemke and Meltzer stressed that communication between the technologists and the nursing staff, and proper donning and doffing of personal protective equipment, is the most important thing. At Emory, there have been open town hall-style information sessions, wide dissemination of standardized screening protocols, and lots of communication inside, and between, various departments.

"Clear and frequent communication with the health care staff is essential during this time of heightened public concern and understandable caution," Meltzer said.

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