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Oct. 18, 2001
By JOHN CHARLES ROBBINS
Staff writer
Anthrax has not touched the Holland area but health care providers say they are doing their best to be prepared for the
worst.
"We're not unlike any other hospital -- we have a plan to respond," said Holland Community Hospital Spokeswoman
Stephanie Dlugopolski.
"We have had a disaster plan in place for several years, and it includes a bioterrorism plan," she said.
"Since the real life scares, we've made several adaptions (to the plan), and worked to improve it as much as possible,"
Dlugopolski said.
"The hospital has been educating the staff, responding to worried patients, and trying to keep down the panic,"
she said.
Zeeland Community Hospital has also taken steps to keep its staff up to speed on latest developments, according to Sally
Timmer R.N., a day shift patient care manager.
Speaking about the community Timmer said, "They can trust that if they need us, we'll be here."
The Zeeland hospital has an established emergency preparedness plan. In recent days the staff has been briefed on new
threats like anthrax and smallpox.
"Anthrax is not something we've had to deal with before ... and hopefully we never will," Timmer said.
The spread of anthrax contamination across the country has raised concerns among the people of Holland.
While no cases of exposure to anthrax have been confirmed here, a few nervous people with ailments have sought treatment
and wondered aloud about the deadly disease.
Holland hospital's 24-hour medical advice phone line, Nursewise, has received two or three calls related to concerns about
bioterrorism.
Some wondered if their symptoms were tell-tale signs of anthrax exposure. One person had questions about smallpox.
"The Emergency Department has not seen an influx," Dlugopolski said, but a few people have asked to be checked
for anthrax exposure.
"We have no confirmed cases of that at this point," she said.
Timmer said she didn't know of any patient inquiries about symptoms or possible treatments.
"We're prepared for them should they come," she reiterated.
A check of druggists at Skip's Pharmacy and Paul's Pharmacy in Holland, Hamilton Family Pharmacy in Hamilton, and Bunte's
Pharmacy in Zeeland, indicated no high level of concern nor a run on antibiotics.
"We haven't had any customers ask for any medicines as of yet," said Pharmacist Amy Arnold at the Hamilton pharmacy.
She suspects the tension level is higher in larger metropolitan areas.
"If you talk to pharmacies in Detroit, it might be a different story," Arnold said.
"There's been some conversation (among) customers, just general conversation," said Pharmacist Mark Sherburn
of Skip's Pharmacy.
"I don't think there's a great deal of concern in this area. We in the Midwest, we sometimes feel removed from the
east coast population," he said.
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