The Ascension Texas Infectious Disease Response Unit (IDRU) was formed in 2018 by Toby Hatton,
MA-EDM, BSN, RN, CHSP, April Burge, MSN, RN, CEN and Annie Steinhauser, BSN, RN, PCCN. The
team consists of Registered Nurses from multiple sites who receive specialty training in the care of
patients who have a high-consequence infectious disease, such as Ebola or SARS. Their training
includes a two-day introduction training of content on pathogens of concern, behavior in Personal
Protective Equipment (PPE), response structures for the State of Texas, donning and doffing, and
patient skills in PPE. The team continued to meet quarterly from 2018 onward to have refresher
practice in donning and doffing as well as updates on any new emerging pathogens.

In February of 2020, the IDRU was among the first clinicians in the United States to be called upon
to care for patients with COVID-19. The team deployed to San Antonio, Texas to care for patients
who were returning from the Diamond Princess cruise ship.

In San Antonio, the team set up an entire wing of hospital rooms for an infectious disease unit,
admitted patients with COVID-19, and cared for these patients – all in less than 24 hours. While
most of the nation was experiencing fear of the novel disease, these nurses confidently stepped in
to provide care for patients, write new policies and procedures on pandemic care, and provide
emotional support in an uncertain time. The IDRU nurses formed bonds with their patients who
had been isolated from friends and family for over a month and they became an even stronger
team as they had to rely upon each other in a very new and stressful time.

The IDRU nurses supported and advocated for the patients to help maintain a sense of normalcy.
One example of this was advocating for the patients to get their laundry done. There was a lot of
hesitancy from outside groups, but the IDRU nurses knew the patients would benefit from having
their own clothes and ensured it was done. The IDRU nurses also worked to get entertainment
and exercise equipment to the patients who had been isolated for so long.

The IDRU nurses all returned to Austin by the end of the month, but their work was just starting. At
the onset of Ascension Texas preparing their hospitals to care for patients with COVID-19, IDRU
nurses were called upon as subject matter experts and prepared their colleagues for patient care.
The IDRU was a critical part of the Ascension Texas response as the team members were able to
help set up units, provide just in time training on donning and doffing, as well as provide education
about principles of caring for patients with infectious diseases. The IDRU nurses were also the first
to care for patients with COVID-19 in Ascension Texas, which they were able to do safely and with
confidence -helping the rest of the Ascension team acclimate to the “new norm”.