Preliminary Findings from an Investigation of Zika Virus Infection in a Patient with No Known Risk Factors - Utah, 2016.

On July 12, 2016, the Utah Department of Health (UDOH) was notified by a clinician caring for an adult (patient A) who was evaluated for fever, rash, and conjunctivitis that began on July 1. Patient A had not traveled to an area with ongoing Zika virus transmission; had not had sexual contact with a person who recently traveled; and had not received a blood transfusion, organ transplant, or mosquito bites (1). Patient A provided care over several days to an elderly male family contact (the index patient) who contracted Zika virus abroad.

How to Conduct the Patient Interview. Communicating successfully with patients requires strategy, flexibility and practice.

As community paramedicine and other nonemergent initiatives become commonplace in EMS, caregivers are going to need communication skills that go beyond SAMPLE checklists. A minimalist approach to dialogue with patients, considered preferred if not essential in what was once almost exclusively a light-and-sirens environment, isn't acceptable when prehospital interventions require a thorough understanding not only of chief complaints, but also how the physical part of illness and injury is framed by the patient's environment. Be considerate, be as thorough as time permits, and pay attention! Next time we'll talk about interviewing prospective employees.

Conducting the Student Interview. It's your best early chance to spot candidates not suited for EMS.

Student interviews help ensure a match between classroom imperatives and candidates'capabilities. Exploring students'maturity and judgment is often more important than confirming their academic proficiency. Walking into an interview unprepared can be as damaging for interviewers as for interviewees.