Over the last four weeks, Ebola has become the new healthcare buzzword. It all goes back to the unexpected and still unexplainable transmission to two healthcare workers in Texas. The feeling was that if they can become infected by the virus with all of the precautions in hospitals, what about people on the streets?

Fortunately, we have not experienced any further transmission of the virus since that time. That's two cases within a country of 300 million. While it seems popular to proclaim the unpreparedness of our healthcare system, the overwhelming majority of providers are indeed prepared to take the necessary precautions to avoid further infections with this virus.

The heightened awareness has certainly caused us to refresh our preparedness level for such a disaster. Last week we experienced numerous changes to protocols for treatment of Ebola patients, both from the Center for Disease Control as well as the Illinois Department of Public Health's Ebola Readiness Center. It has caused all providers to revisit their plans and re-educate their staff in the event we should ever encounter a full-blown epidemic.

• Contributions up to $20 will receive an acknowledgment card;
• Contributions $20-$99 will receive a card and a dated porcelain ornament; or 
• Contributions $100 and above will receive a card, dated porcelain ornament and a special llight in the red heart at the top of the Lovelight Tree.

Please stop by the hospital this Christmas season to view our Lovelight Tree located by the main entrance of the hospital. All donor names and names of those remembered and honored will be on display in the hospital front lobby from December 8, 2014 - January 9, 2015.

Trinity and Hammond-Henry Hospital will host an educational session designed to help community members navigate the health insurance marketplace and the Affordable Care Act at 10 a.m., Saturday, November 8 in the Hammond-Henry Hospital Conference Room.

A Trinity marketplace specialist will be on hand to answer questions about how the marketplace works and schedule appointments with Certified Application Counselors.  A Spanish interpreter will be available.

There is no cost to attend and registration is not required. If unable to attend, call (309) 779-4584 to learn more about the marketplace or go to unitypoint.org/marketplace.