Emergency Department Management of the Covid-19 Pandemic
#MMPMID32948375
Schreyer KE
; Del Portal DA
; King LJL
; Blome A
; DeAngelis M
; Stauffer K
; Desrochers K
; Donahue W
; Politarhos N
; Raab C
; McNamara R
J Emerg Med
2020[Dec]; 59
(6
): 946-951
PMID32948375
show ga
BACKGROUND: Emergency departments (EDs) need to be prepared to manage crises and
disasters in both the short term and the long term. The coronavirus disease 2019
(COVID-19) pandemic has necessitated a rapid overhaul of several aspects of ED
operations in preparation for a sustained response. OBJECTIVE: We present the
management of the COVID-19 crisis in 3 EDs (1 large academic site and 2 community
sites) within the same health care system. DISCUSSION: Aspects of ED throughput,
including patient screening, patient room placement, and disposition are
reviewed, along with departmental communication procedures and staffing models.
Visitor policies are also discussed. Special considerations are given to airway
management and the care of psychiatric patients. Brief guidance around the use of
personal protective equipment is also included. CONCLUSIONS: A crisis like the
COVID-19 pandemic requires careful planning to facilitate urgent restructuring of
many aspects of an ED. By sharing our departments' responses to the COVID-19
pandemic, we hope other departments can better prepare for this crisis and the
next.
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