Can You Catch It? Lessons Learned and Modification of ED Triage Symptom- and Travel-Screening Strategy.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Efficient identification and isolation of patients with communicable diseases limits exposure to health care workers, other patients, and visitors. In August 2014, our team developed and implemented an algorithm to triage suspected cases of Ebola virus disease in a midwestern United States emergency department and outpatient clinics based on patient travel history and symptoms. Here, we present the lessons learned and modifications to update the tool.

Methods

Two strategies were developed and utilized to properly identify, isolate, and inform on patients with suspected highly hazardous communicable diseases: 1) a robust electronic symptom and travel screen with decision support tools in the electronic medical record, and 2) the availability of workflow protocols

SUBMITTER: Schwedhelm MM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7160057 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature