ST. LOUIS – For more than a quarter-century, Wellington Environmental has been working with hospitals and ambulatory care facilities all over the country to enhance infection control procedures. This week, the St. Louis-based company launched Infection Control University (ICU).

“ICU is to help minimize the risk and exposure of hospital acquired infections,” said Tom Sears, creator of the program.

The company is offering the web-based program, free of charge, to hospitals nationwide because owner Thom Wellington says most facilities are not prepared for Ebola or the next super virus that will likely arise.

“They are scrambling as we know,” Wellington said. “There are some facilities, even locally, that have isolation plans in place and understand every level that needs to be touched from security to housekeeping.”

Wellington said those are the minority. Most hospitals have what is called “bunny suits” left over from the SARS and avian flu scares. These suits will not protect doctors or nurses from bodily fluids.

As a test, a NewsChannel 5 crew poured water on the suit, which seeped right through the material. Even the next level suit was porous.

Wellington is worried about the Ebola virus because, according to him, the CDC keeps changing its protocols. Which is why he is offering the ICU program free to any interested hospital.