Will Ebola finally expose our failing health care system?

So Ebola has reached the shores of the United States.  Nothing like a dose of a deadly disease to shine light on  the multiple problems with health care system. Let's start at the top. Since the beginning of the outbreak of Ebola, the heads of the various Federal departments that oversee care of infectious diseases, like the CDC, the public health care system etc have reassured the American public that this country has the best health care system in the world and are more than well prepared to handle Ebola.   Okay. Then why did we witness so many problems with the identification and care of Mr. Duncan ?  The first response of course, was to blame the victim. He didn't check the correct box at airport. 

He did however, upon becoming symptomatic ,take himself to a local hospital in Dallas and was open about his place in origin. Yet he was turned away.

Does anyone know how many people he has had contact with since his entry to this country? Do we know who is handling this investigative aspect?

It is not heartening to realize that the first Ebola victim on U.S. soil did not make it. We could  move beyond questions of race and citizenship in that outcome except in this country quality health care is predicated on one's ability to pay for it.

But let us move on. Let's move on to the fact that the ostensible reason Mr. Duncan died is because there are no doses left of the experimental drugs that saved the two Americans who contracted Ebola while in West Africa.  Does that say anything about this country's level of preparedness?

Yesterday we learned that one of the sheriffs involved in Duncan's case has been quarantined and tested for Ebola.

Today we learned that one of the nurses who cared for Mr. Duncan has tested positive for Ebola. And so it begins. Now the head of the CDC blames another victim citing that the nurse's Ebola disease was caused by a breach of protocol. A national nurse's advocacy group retorts that 75% of nurses surveyed have no idea what the protocol for care of an Ebola patient is. Other nurses report they were given a hyperlink to access and study the protocol. More fortunate nurses mention that they were given a piece of paper to read.

This outbreak will test our health care system like none other. So far we are on our knees.