In a new age of medicine, in which highly contagious diseases can develop anywhere in the world and find their way to the opposite side of the globe within hours, hospitals are always on high alert, according to an article on the NJ.com website.

"It's a fact of life today — the spread of disease by people, food-borne outbreaks and other sources is unfortunately inevitable and something hospitals need to be ready to address at any time," said Pat Lafaro, director of infection prevention at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick.

"Ebola has been a learning experience for all of us," said Lou Sasso, Robert Wood Johnson's director of emergency preparedness. Because Ebola's main mode of transport is through bodily fluids, "staffers treating it require more than standard masks, scrubs and gloves. They need to cover and protect all areas of the skin from exposure using booties, double gloves, fluid-impervious Tyvek suits and specialized headgear that keeps the head protected while still allowing some air to circulate. These supplies were all different than the ones hospitals typically stocked," he said.

Training is also as issue.

"We offer classroom time for them to practice with the gear and also have them complete probable tasks, such as collecting blood, cleaning spills, operating a ventilator or disposing of garbage with the equipment on, so that they feel more comfortable maneuvering in it, and so that their first time in the gear isn't when they're treating patients," Sasso said.

Read the article.