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Doctor Treated for Ebola Virus Disease is Discharged from HHC Bellevue Hospital Center
Nov 11, 2014
The New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation (HHC), in consultation with the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and the Centers for Disease Control, today announced that Dr. Craig Spencer, the patient treated for Ebola Virus Disease, is free of the virus and was today discharged from the hospital. After a rigorous course of treatment, safety procedures and testing, the HHC Bellevue team determined Dr. Spencer is healthy and poses no public health risk.
“I am pleased to announce that we were able to treat and cure a hero who put himself in harm’s way to care for others,” said HHC President Dr. Ram Raju. “Today, we also show the world that HHC and the public health care system are at the forefront of cutting edge medicine. When New York City had the urgent need to prepare for Ebola it was HHC that stepped forward first and did the job right. I could not be more proud of our staff and more happy for our patient.”
“I am very proud to see the release of Dr. Craig Spencer, a man who is truly a hero,” said Health Commissioner Dr. Mary Bassett. “I applaud the work of Dr. Spencer’s medical team and thank HHC for ensuring that he received the best care available. Our months of planning and preparation have indeed paid off. Although we will remain vigilant, today is another reminder of how truly fortunate we all are to reside in a city with the best pubic hospital system and health department anywhere.”
“As a doctor with experience in treating patients with Ebola virus disease, Dr. Spencer was able to take an active part in all treatment decisions about his care here at Bellevue. He is a brave and caring doctor with a great sense of humor, and that helped in his recovery,” said Dr. Laura Evans, Director of Critical Care and Associate Chief of Medicine, HHC Bellevue. “I would especially like to recognize the team of nurses, doctors, lab technicians and other staff whose support and dedication contributed to Dr. Spencer’s recovery. And I’m also very grateful to colleagues from around the United States and the world for sharing their expertise, especially colleagues at the CDC, Emory University, and the University of Nebraska.”
Dr. Spencer arrived at HHC Bellevue and was diagnosed with the Ebola virus on October 23, 2014. He was treated by a trained team of specialists and intensive care nurses in the Infectious Disease Unit. Bellevue was designated as one of eight Ebola treatment centers in the state and one in five in New York City. The hospital has a long history of being on the front lines of epidemics and emerging public health threats, and managing an isolation unit for diseases, such as TB, for many years.
For more information, visit the NYC Department of Health website and the CDC website.
Contact: Press Office, pressoffice@nychhc.org
Ian Michaels, 212-788-3339, ian.michaels@nychhc.org