[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 166 (Tuesday, December 4, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2196]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




RECOGNIZING THE PHYSICIANS, NURSES, AND HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS OF INOVA 
                            FAIRFAX HOSPITAL

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. TOM DAVIS

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 4, 2001

  Mr. DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 
fine work of the physicians, nurses and other health care providers at 
Inova Fairfax Hospital in response to the recent cases of inhalation 
anthrax that befell workers at the Brentwood postal facility. Two 
employees of this facility, Mr. Leroy Richmond and an unnamed 
colleague, sought treatment at Inova Fairfax for what ultimately proved 
to be inhalation anthrax. For both gentlemen, the close attention and 
astute diagnoses of Drs. Cecele Murphy and Susan Bersoff-Matcha were 
literally the difference between life and death.
  Physicians, nurses and other health care providers represent the 
difference between life and death for many, many patients with myriad 
conditions every day. What was special about this instance was that 
both doctors were dealing with a rare disease that affords little, if 
any, room for error. Early diagnosis of anthrax is essential in giving 
a patient the chance to survive--a task made all the more difficult 
because early symptoms of anthrax are not easily distinguishable from 
the flu or other common maladies. In addition, at the point when Mr. 
Richmond presented at the emergency room, the extent to which postal 
workers were at risk for exposure was not fully understood. Cast 
against a backdrop of profound public fear, with numerous worried 
patients believing they displayed signs of anthrax, the actions of Drs. 
Murphy and Bersoff-Matcha are all the more impressive.
  Quick and accurate decisions such as those made by Dr. Murphy, Dr. 
Bersoff-Matcha, the nurses and staff of Inova Fairfax Hospital will be 
required to minimize casualties in any future bioterrorism attacks. In 
the anthrax attacks--the first biological assault of our new war on 
terrorism--these individuals have provided an outstanding example for 
others to follow.

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