CipherHealth’s Chief Nursing Officer Lisa Romano says proactive patient outreach with screening and direction on where to seek care if necessary, is one of the most powerful tools a hospital can adopt right now as they try to contain the virus yet still provide patient care and the safety of their community.
Editor's Note: This article originally posted on CipherHealth's website.
The latest Situation Summary from the CDC has confirmed that novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has begun community spread in the United States. The level of concern among the general population is rising, along with the number of confirmed cases. Hospital personnel are looking for ways to conduct mass screening of patients scheduled for procedures and also to answer questions from the community about what to do in the event of exposure.
The Importance of Screening for Coronavirus Exposure
Imagine a scenario in which someone who doesn’t know they have COVID-19 goes to the hospital or a care facility for an appointment or elective procedure. By the time they are checked in, examined, and diagnosed, dozens if not hundreds, of staff and patients could potentially be exposed. Pre-hospital providers and other transport services may also risk exposure.
This is the exact scenario hospitals are trying to avoid as more cases of coronavirus are being confirmed every day. Hospital systems like the University of California San Francisco Medical Center (UCSF) are taking no time in debating the merits of partnering with CipherHealth to develop an automated screening program for people they know are coming to the hospital for appointments. Click here to continue>>
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