COVID-19 and Overrun Emergency Departments
Last Updated: Dec 15, 2021
As we face high COVID-19 and flu infection rates, social media and the news have been relentless in their warnings of overrun emergency departments as we move into the winter months and holiday season.
Not surprisingly and in direct relation to the current uptick in infection rates, PAMED members have expressed concerns and questions about how and when they should accept suspected or confirmed COVID-19 positive patients and current treatment protocols as we all work together to keep patients out of the emergency department when appropriate.
A brief list of helpful resources follow:
- The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has published a comprehensive guide for healthcare providers regarding how to accept patient suspected or confirmed to have the COVID-19.
- Also, here’s a quick reference for healthcare providers when a patient who may be COVID-19 positive visits your practice.
- Another question we receive is how can I stay on top of the COVID-19 treatment guidelines? Treatment guidelines can be found on the National Institutes of Health’s website.
PAMED members are encouraged to print this handy guide to make available for your patients. It’s a simple reminder of where to go when they aren’t feeling well.