Harbor:Infectious Disease Threats

Coronavirus (COVID-19)

See COVID-19 for non-Harbor-specific information; please feel free to contribute to the further development of these pages

COVID physician leads

  • AED Flow/Discharges- Andrea
  • Drug/Non-PPE Shortages - Andrea
  • Non-Emergency Physicians in the Emergency Department - Mike
  • Homeless Issues - Dennis
  • Airway-Ryan
  • Environmental Services/Cleaning Protocols- Moh
  • Triage/Fast Track Tents - Brad
  • Email Updates - Andrea
  • Pediatric Schedule - Kelly
  • PPE - Shira
  • EMS - Shira
  • Palliative Care/End-Of-Life Issues - Tim J.
  • ACLS - Shira/Dami
  • COVID Testing - Mike
  • Transfers to Mercy Ship – Denise (Currently only for inpatients with non-respiratory issues and negative Covid test)
  • Attending scheduling for Adult ED – Manny
  • PED issues - Patricia

COVID Terminology

  • “Pink”
    • respiratory complaint/Not PUI
    • Need droplet/contact PPE
    • pink wrist bands = need mask.
  • “PUI”
    • Meet DHS Testing Criteria (See below)
  • Disaster track categories
    • The router will place initial category,
    • Ask nurse to change as necessary (can use communication order)
      • Categories
        • COVID EXPOSURE – no symptoms but at risk
        • COVID FT – ILI symptoms (Cough, fever or SOB)
        • COVID AED – not PUI but too complicated for quick dispo
        • COVID PUI – meet DHS testing criteria

Latest Updates

  • Don't need to page 'Consult to Covid Tracking' anymore since testing all admissions 5/1/20

Harbor Checklists & Resources

Triage

  • PUI going direct to room - do not order triage labs
  • PINK wristband = mask + respiratory isolation area (R2 IWR, R4 tasking, alcove in WR)

COVID Visitor Policy

4/14/2020

  • Patients visiting the Emergency Department may have 1 person with them
    • If a visitor has a fever, cough, OR shortness of breath in past 24 hours, they CANNOT enter the building
  • All visitors and patients on site for clinic or ancillary service visits, must wear a facility-provided mask at all times while in the hospital/clinic building.
  • Visitors will not be permitted for positive or suspect COVID patients, regardless of clinical circumstances or location in the hospital.
    • Hospital staff will attempt to facilitate phone or video communication between patients and families, to the extent feasible. ** The only exception to this prohibition is pediatric inpatients (under 18 years of age), who will be allowed one parent/guardian at a time and the rules listed below for pediatric patients will apply.
  • EXCEPTIONS:
    • Patients who are at the end-of-life (e.g., comfort care) may have 1 visitor per day, for up to two hours. Visitors must remain in the room for the duration of the visit and should leave the hospital immediately after the visit is completed.
    • Patients with disruptive behavior, altered mental status, or developmental delays, where a caregiver’s presence helps with the patient’s care may have 1 visitor. 
    • Obstetric patients may have 1 partner/birth support person accompany them for the duration of the delivery; once the baby is delivered, the visitor should leave the hospital. Visitors will not be permitted in post-partum.
    • Nursery and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) patients may have 1 birth parent at time, who must remain in the NICU throughout the visit. 
    • Minors under the age of 18 may have 1 visitor at a time, who is the parent or guardian, who must always remain in the room during the visit. Parent/guardian overnight stays will be permitted at the discretion of the clinical team.

DHS PUI Testing Criteria 5-11-20

  • Nurses will put everyone suspected of meeting PUI in a room in droplet precautions
  • ED Attending will determine if patient meets definition
  • OLD TESTING CRITERIA (High probability)
  1. Fever AND (cough OR shortness of breath AND NOT requiring hospitalization). Must be MEASURED fever in ED or at home (>100.4 F/38.0 C) AND:
    1. healthcare worker OR
    2. works or lives in group environment (SNF/group home/rehab center/jail) OR
  2. Symptoms of Acute Respiratory Infection (New cough 'OR' new Shortness of Breath. No fever required) AND REQUIRING HOSPITALIZATION without an alternative diagnosis (positive blood culture, cavitary lesion, chronic (>14d))
  3. CONSIDER testing ONLY if it will change management for:
    1. age>65 with chronic medical conditions (heart or lung disease)OR
    2. immunosuppression (includes prednisone>20mg daily)
  • NEW TESTING CRITERIA (lower probability)
  1. Unexplained fever in the ED; ONLY if the patient is being admitted.
  2. Patients (particularly the elderly) presenting with confusion/altered mental status in the absence of a reasonable alternative diagnosis.
  3. Patients with an unexplained thrombotic or vasculitic event.
  4. Any patient arriving from a SNF or other LTCF.
  5. For inpatients, if fever or infiltrate develops, testing should be strongly considered in the absence of a clear hospital-acquired infection or complication.
  6. Patients with an unusual/expected post-operative course.
  • New outpatient testing criteria:
    • No longer have to refer such patients elsewhere for testing.
    • Test indication dropdown “Outpatient – CAN self-isolate”, so it does not take up one of our limited rapid in-house test spots (it will be sent out with a turnaround of 1-2 days)
    • Criteria for outpatient testing:
  1. cough, OR
  2. shortness of breath, OR
  3. any two of the following symptoms:
    1. Fever
    2. Chills
    3. Repeated shaking with chills
    4. Muscle pain
    5. Headache
    6. Sore throat
    7. New loss of taste or smell
  • Please remember to CCC under the “Lab Follow-up HAR” for any tests you send that do not result before discharge.
  • ID is available 24/7 if you are unclear if they meet PUI criteria (pager 0343)

ADMISSIONS

New Adult ED Admission Flow 5/1/20

  • Decide to admit the patient, send the COVID test (with indications: admit symptomatic / admit asymptomatic)
    • For transfers, do not test unless requesting facility requests it
  • Patient's being redlined to OR or going to cath lab, order and send test from ED
  • For Medicine admits, wait for the COVID test result.
    • Asymptomatic Medicine patients who happen to be COVID+, should be admitted to Covid hospitalist team.
    • COVID neg patients are admitted to Med Ward teams.
  • Asymptomatic non-Medicine patients who happen to be COVID+ should be managed by the usual admitting team
    • Once you have contacted the admitting team, place the request for admit
    • Admitting team should place orders, and may wait for rest result to determine isolation bed type
  • Patient flow will not assign the bed until the COVID test is resulted
  • No more COVID tracking pages – now that we are testing all admissions, you do NOT need to send the batch page anymore.

MICU boarders coming back to ED:

  • For inpatients that get moved to the ED for intubation or for boarding for an ICU isolation bed
  • Inpatient teams give report to ED attending.
  • ED attending places a pre-arrival note. **To streamline communication, the new Spectralinks are
    • COVID MICU Team #1 29040
    • COVID MICU Team #2 29031
    • COVID MICU Team #3 29036
    • COVID hospitalist - check banner bar
  • MICU team and Spectralink, and code status should be written on doors

PED

  • Our PICU has no negative pressure rooms.
  • Pediatric ward has 5 rooms that are negative pressure.
  • For children with URI/ILI symptoms that need to be admitted they will need to go into a negative pressure room upstairs.
  • If they require SDU or PICU placement we will need to discuss with the PICU attending.
  • The PICU has converted room 15 on the pediatric ward to be used for ICU level care and may turn a few more of the negative pressure rooms into ICU level care rooms.
  • Per ID, if a PED asthmatic patient is well enough to go home, we should not be doing COVID-19 testing.

Transfer to USNS Mercy - currently only available for inpatients, not ED transfers

  • Green patients PCU level and ICU level patients (after discussion with Navy screening physicians) that have tested COVID negative within 72 hours prior to transfer.
  • If the hospital has identified potential patients to transfer, they can discuss the cases directly with the USNS Mercy screening physicians that are at the MAC to facilitate transfers daily between 0800 - 1800 each day.
  • Criteria for transfer and procedures can be found here: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/nja0p9z0gfhfoot/AADr3sL2ClbbMYHGpdvrAIfma?dl=0

LASH transfers - Covid+ PCU and ICU patients to new hospital St. Vincent’s, the LA Surge Hospital (LASH)

  • Currently only available for inpatients, not ED transfers.
  • Want patients with anticipated long admission length of stays

Commercial testing (Quest or UCLA) for PUI criteria above

NO LONGER NEED FLU TEST, flu season is over.

==

Discharge

  • Please CCC-Lab Follow-up any patient being discharged with a COVID test sent
  • Anyone suspected or proven to have COVID are now REQUIRED BY LAW to
  • Consider giving patient a pulse ox to go home with.
    • Call OCN for pulse ox and give instructions on how to use.
    • Give attached discharge instructions with how to use and log for patient. File:PulseOxDischargeWIKEM.pdf
    • Home Pulse Oximeter Clinical Criteria: (Given limited supply)
      • Mild COVID-19-like illness and/or known positive
      • Well appearing, with comorbidity (elderly, DM, HTN, obesity, and/or pulmonary/cardiac disease)
      • Mild vital sign derangement in ED that does not require admission
      • Mild tachypnea (RR<22)
      • Mild resting hypoxia (Oxygen saturation 92-95%)
      • Mild tachycardia (100-115 BPM)
      • Walking pulse oximeter of 92% or greater with no respiratory distress
      • No access to pulse oximeter at home (please ask patient)
      • Patient, caretaker and/or family member has ability to understand and perform home pulse oximeter checks
      • Provider clinical judgment
      • NOTE: Patients who have more than tachypnea, hypoxia, or tachycardia that is greater than the reference numbers provided above (i.e. those who likely require admission) or those who are not able to understand how to use the device should be excluded from this home pulse oximetry program.
  • Homeless patient or other patient's that cannot safely self-isolate with mild symptoms that could be discharged,
    • Placement needed if:
      • homeless
      • congregate housing
      • has home but unable to safely self-isolate due to
        • inability to access supplies/food/medicine
        • very high likelihood of infection other household residents who are at high risk of severe complications).
      • Call SW early
      • SW will coordinate with DPH intake center (833-596-1009) 8a-8p every day File:Workflow_QI Call Center Intake 4.2.20.pdf
        • Helps with transportation
        • Need pending Covid test, send as 'outpatient cannot isolate'.
          • Usually gets sent to Quest with 1-2d turnaround time.
        • Must be able to perform ADLs
        • There is a new intake form that needs to be filled out with a section of medical questions. Please help SW fill out the medical portion of the DPH Shelter intake form. File:DPH Shelter Isolation and Quarantine Referral Form 4-5-2020.pdf
        • If placement is available, then intake coordinator will contact and coordinate EMS transportation to arrange pick up
        • If placement is NOT available, then we will be notified that the placement is pending. Provider(s) and SW will need to consider best place for patient to wait until placement is ready.
        • If patient’s test ends up being negative, then patient will be discharged home the isolation site.
        • If the patient’s test is positive, then patient will stay for duration of illness per DPH recommendations.

Airway Management

  • Airway management File:Airway Management for PUI-COVID v7.pdf
  • Intubation checklist File:Intubation checklist 4.9.20.pdf
    • Intubate early (consider if need 6L NC or more), use VL so you’re face is further away. Clean VL with grey wipes, observe 3 min wet time
    • Location: negative room pressure preferred; if patient too unstable to move to negative pressure room, use single patient room
    • Avoid BiPAP, high flow nasal cannula (HFNC), nebulizers
      • Use MDI/spacer instead of nebs
      • If needed HFNC with surgical mask over patient is preferred over BiPAP. Both require airborne precautions.
      • Viral filters should not be used with BVM or stocked in the airway carts, in order to preserve them for the transport ventilators
    • When intubating patients, for any unclear cases, wear N95, face shield, gown and gloves
      • If using PAPR, then need pre-assigned RN outside the room to help decontaminate it by wiping it down with purple wipes before you take it off
    • Aerosol box in trauma bay 1 if want to use. Please remember to handle with care and more importantly, clean with bleach (orange) wipes after each use per infection control.
      • Pre-oxygenate with NRB at 15L/min with surgical mask over vents and use apneic nasal cannula at 6L/min during intubation.
      • Avoid using bag-valve-mask if possible
      • If possible, directly attach patient to ventilator without BVM after cuff is inflated
      • RSI to ensure paralysis. Consider higher range of dosing of paralytic, rocuronium preferred, to avoid patient coughing.
      • Follow ARDSnet protocol, TV ~6ml/kg ideal body weight, high PEEP - http://www.ardsnet.org/files/ventilator_protocol_2008-07.pdf
  • PAPR

EMS runs

  • AGPs should not be performed in the hallways. Thus, for ROSCs/Critical medical arrivals, a physician should meet the EMS crew on the ambulance ramp and:
    • 1) determine if an AGP is being performed,
    • 2) ask the EMS crew to hold the AGP until in the room,
    • 3) escort them directly to the room, and
    • 4) instruct recommencement of the AGP as soon as safely possible.
    • Note: BVM via a supraglottic airway (SGA) or ETT with a viral filter is not an AGP.

Treatment Tips

  • Patient Presentation
    • Patient may have preceding GI symptoms prior to developing respiratory illness
  • Treatment
    • Avoid steroids unless strong non-COVID indication
    • Limited data on chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine
    • Remdesivir via compassionate use for severely hypoxemic (Mechanical vent, high PEEP, FiO2 requirements >40%,).
  • Any MDIs used in the ED to sent home with the patient instead of prescribing the patient another MDI and throwing the one used in the ED away. To do so, three simple steps needs to happen:
  1. Fill out a pre-printed rx sticker - available in English and Spanish with patient's name, the date, your name, patient's MRN. The stickers will be on the same clipboard as the logs (see #3 below) in each doc box.
  2. Put sticker on box for inhaler or inhaler itself and hand to patient
  3. Put patient sticker (or write patient name and MRN), your name, and circle drug given on the log. There will be a log in each doc box (purple, green, pediatrics).
  • STEMI
    • if stable consider TNK in consultation with cardiology
    • if unstable, cath lab

Ventilator Management

  • PRVC mode, initial tidal volume: 6-8 mL/kg of predicted body weight (link)
  • If initial plateau pressure is persistently > 30 cm H2O, reduce the tidal volume by 1 mL/kg, until plateau pressure <30 H2O
  • Goal: SpO2 88-96%: Adjust PEEP and FiO2 as per table below
FiO2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1.0
PEEP 12-14 14-16 18 18-20 18-20 22 22 22-24
  • If SpO2 <88% despite maximum FiO2 and PEEP on table above, intervene in the following order. If goal SpO2 is not achieved, proceed to the next step on the list.
    • Prone the patient
    • Observe for signs of dyssynchrony with the ventilator (e.g. initiating a new breath before full exhalation, coughing/auto-triggering). If present, first increase sedation to RASS of -4. If persistent, give single dose non-depolarizing paralytic (e.g. vecuronium 0.1mg/kg)
    • Seek expert (MICU) consultation to place patient on APRV
    • If above steps and MICU consultation fail to stabilize oxygenation of patient, V-V ECMO may be considered for select patients. Contact trauma attending to reach Dennis Kim.

Antibiotics

  • CAP treatment for intubated patients with ARDS per surviving sepsis guidelines

Fluid resuscitation

  • For hemodynamically stable patients with ARDS, avoid fluid resuscitation
  • For hemodynamically unstable patients with ARDS, consider small (500mL) fluid boluses and early norepinephrine

PPE

  • ILC-Dover PAPR in purple Acute doc box.
  • CAPRs and Max Air PAPRs available - call OCN x23902
  • “Special Precautions” are announced for an EMS patient and airway management pages, please ensure that all involved healthcare workers are wearing appropriate PPE.
  • Recommendation for PPE File:Guidance on precautions and masks for COVID-19_updated 3.25.20.pdf
    • In general, wear surgical masks (ties) or procedure mask (ear loops) and eye protection (goggles or face shield) while working in the ED since we often deal with limited information when evaluating patients. Personal glasses or the traditional ED disposable plastic glasses are not sufficient.
    • If a patient is getting a high-risk aerosol generating procedure (AGP) then airborne precautions are preferred in addition to contact and droplet precautions. AGP include intubation, NIPPV (BiPAP/CPAP), high flow oxygen, nebulizers, CPR, and suctioning, to name a few relevant in the ED. If need to do NIPPV, nebs, HFNC try your best to place surgical mask over.
    • Once intubated, or after an AGP is completed, patient needs airborne precautions x 1 hr if vent is not being disconnected or if patient is not getting suction. Since an ETT connected to a vent is a closed circuit, after 1 hour the patient goes back onto droplet/contact precautions. If other AGP done again then 1 hr clock restarts needing airborne precautions. If patient was dispositioned out of the ED while still in airborne precautions, then will need terminal clean with 1-hour air exchange.
    • If no AGP, then patient needs to wear a mask and have contact and droplet precautions with closed door. So for example, if a masked ‘pink’ patient is going to CT without an AGP, only need a wipe down as per usual contact/droplet cleaning, and does not need a terminal clean.
    • After a Pink or PUI patient leaves the ED, the room may be cleaned immediately per droplet/contact precautions, unless there was an AGP was done in the previous 1 hour.
    • Only need terminal clean if aerosol generating procedure (AGP) done, otherwise just droplet precaution cleaning with wipes
    • Write your name into the log by patient room if sick suspected COVID patient getting admitted
    • PAPR - get from Charge RN.
      • If using a PAPR - get a preassigned nurse outside the room decontaminate it for you before you take it off (Purple wipes)
    • If patient brought in by EMS, let MICN know you suspect COVID so they can inform the EMS crew & decontaminate their rig

Exposures

  • If you are exposed to a confirmed patient - whether in PPE or not - you should self-monitor for symptoms for 14 days. OK to work as long as you do not have symptoms. IPC and Employee Health will give recs for staff exposures based on CDC criteria.
  • Infection Prevention confirms the exposure and provides Employee Health with a list of affected departments. Employee Health then notifies all dept chairs or supervisors of exposure and request list of names of staff with potential exposure. Supervisor provides staff with a confidential notice to present to Employee Health
  • Employee presents to Employee Health for evaluation

Based on CDC exposure risk either self-monitor with or without work restrictions are initiated

Screening L&D Patients

  • If >14 weeks with fever or cough, keep in ED
  • If febrile, immediately consult OB and place in AED 15, 16, 17, 21, Tra 1-7, or peds 4 for FetalLink monitoring capabilities

Latest Numbers - Census, Positives, Supplies, Rx

  • COVID Cases
    • Harbor
      • POSITIVE 5/1= 20
      • PUI (pend) 5/1= 10
      • Recovered (+ve DC's)=75
    • LA County
      • COVID +ve= 4/29= 23,182
        • Age <18= 442
        • Age 18-40= 6385
        • Age 41-65= 8380
        • Age >65= 4255
        • Deaths= 1,111
      • Mercy Transfers 5/1=33
      • LA Surge Hospital (COVID transfers) 5/1=8
  • Supplies
    • Viral swabs 4/20=1303
    • Surgical masks 4/29= 29-day supply
    • N-95 4/20= <30-day supply
    • Face shields 4/20= >30-day supply
    • PAPR + Dover (ED) 2+5
    • CAPR (ED) 6 (~12 DLCs 4/15)
    • Ventilators 4/22= 28/53 available
    • Gloves 4/6= 48-days on hand
    • Gowns 3/26= enough
  • Drug shortages 4/28
    • Fentanyl/versed gtts, Precedex, nimbex (cisatracurium) - use propofol if appropriate
    • IV fluids - use oral hydration whenever possible. Reserve IVF to those that cannot tolerate PO.
    • Albuterol nebulizer (there is plenty of MDIs)

COVID ACTION PLAN (Phases 1-3)

  • Phase I: “COVID-19 Screening”
    • Pre-router - mask patients with fever, cough, dyspnea
    • Router - register on disaster track (“COVID Possible”)
      • “Routine” priority
        • COVID EXPOSURE – no symptoms but at risk
        • COVID FT – ILI symptoms
        • COVID ED – not PUI criteria but ILI with other medical issues that are too complex for FastTrack
      • “High” Priority
        • COVID PUI – for patients meeting DPH criteria
      • Patients in respiratory isolation to AWR Alcove / back half of PWR
    • Triage
      • Triage priority:  Cardiac > High > COVID > Routine
      • Temporarily suspending CXR for RIPT scoring
    • Ambulance Triage
      • All patient (including those going to Psych ED) must be screened per above
    • Psych ED
      • EMS to Psych ED will receive screening at psych
        • If a patient meets PUI criteria, they should be immediately transferred to the AED and placed in a room
      • Patients arriving in Triage or AED for clearance to psych need MSE note
        • If no infectious or other medical concerns, the patient can go directly to the Psych ED after physician evaluation
      • Labor & Delivery
        • ED will perform infection screening on all patients presenting to the ED including L&D patients >14 weeks gestation
          • If negative, they will be directed to L&D
          • If positive with fever (subjective or recorded in past 24 hours), they will be triaged as usual and OB will be consulted
          • If >24 weeks gestation, they will be prioritized to AED 15, 16, 17, 21, Tra 1-7, or PED 4 for Fetal Link monitoring, with the goal of door to monitoring in <20 minutes
          • If the patient is in active labor, the patient will be moved to one of the trauma bays and the L&D team will decide the best location for impending delivery
  • Triage Rapid DC
    • RN completes portion of team triage and goes to open triage room for next patient after provider interview completed
    • Provider
      • Completes MSE Note: “definitive treatment provider”; “please see chart for details”; tracking acuity “5”; no typing in History/Exam section
      • Completes paper chart or .phrase and pre-printed paper discharge (English/Spanish/Korean)
      • Give discharge paper work to registration and patient (provider to sign the discharge paperwork and state “patient verbally consents” to avoid fomite transmission)
      • Takes patient to registration windows A-C and hands paper forms (H&P and signed DC) to Patient Access Staff
      • Join RN in new room after discharge process from prior patient complete
    • PAS will complete registration then sticker the paper forms, and place the chart in box to be scanned
    • Patient leaves from registration
    • RN wipes down exposed/touched surfaces per droplet protocol using Grey Cavi-wipe to clean all surfaces (door handle, chair, etc.)
    • Discharge off the tracking board
      • DETAILED STEPS:
  1. 1 - click pt recented seen x 6
  2. 2 - "H" for home, "T" for today, "N" for now
  • PED Rapid DC
    • If the patient does not meet PUI criteria, send directly to PED 8-10 for immediate discharge
      • If >3 patients, send to the masked patient side of the Peds WR NP or resident in PED 8-10
      • Chart with “.edcovid” – include reference that patient given COVID ED instructions
      • Discharge with pre-printed paper discharge
      • Registration in PED 8-10
    • If the patient meets PUI criteria, patient taken directly to a room and notify PED team
      • Change QuickReg to “COVID PUI”
      • If not eligible for FT but not a PUI, change QuickReg to “COVID PED”
  • Phase 2
    • DHS/OOP ESI 4/5 can go to UCC
    • FT Team Rapid Dispo (ESI 3 or 4) - low risk, COVID suspected (but not meeting DHS PUI criteria), but still needs simple workup
      • Complete triage, rapid history & exam
      • Apply PINK wrist band to patient indicating COVID suspected/DHS PUI patients.
      • Provider & triage RN exit the room and initiates a new triage process in the open room for the next patient
      • Patient goes to COVID suspected/DHS PUI specific tasking rooms
        • RME 7 (internal waiting room)
        • RME 9 (phlebotomy)
        • These two rooms will be designated COVID suspected rooms and will have more frequent housekeeping cleaning
        • Tasking LVN to ensure droplet precautions are followed in these rooms and will escort patient to XR & EKGs
      • After tasking, patient will be escorted to Registration windows A-C
        • Registration sends patient to respiratory isolation area of the waiting room
      • FT team/NPs evaluates disposition from the Alcove if appropriate (use privacy screen)
    • Non-FT Candidate
      • Notify RME charge nurse for available bed in ED

.edcovid, paper charts, & discharge material

  • History:
  • Chief complaint _
  • HPI _
  • Pertinent ROS:
  • _ Fever
  • _ Cough
  • _ Rhinorrhea
  • _ Headache
  • _ Vomiting
  • Other: _
  • Past Medical History
  • _ No significant Past Medical History
  • _ High-risk Conditions: Age >65, Heart disease, Diabetes, Pregnant, Immunocompromised
  • Other: _
  • Allergies: _
  • _ No known drug allergies
  • Physical Exam:
  • _Vital signs normal
  • General: Patient is well nourished, well developed, awake and alert, in no acute distress
  • Head: Normocephalic and atraumatic
  • Eyes: Normal inspection, extraocular muscles intact
  • _ Ears: normal external exam and tympanic membranes
  • Nose & Throat: Normal external exam, moist mucosa
  • Neck: Non-meningeal
  • Cardiovascular: Patient is not tachycardic
  • _ Regular rate and rhythm without appreciable murmur
  • _ Heart rate appropriate for fever
  • Respiratory:
  • _ Patient is in no respiratory distress
  • _ Lungs are clear to auscultation bilaterally
  • Back: Normal inspection of the back with good range of motion
  • Extremities: Normal strength, capillary refills <2 seconds
  • Neuro: Normal mentation, alert and oriented, appropriately conversive, coordination appears to be adequate, ambulatory without assistance
  • Skin: Warm, dry, and intact
  • Medical Decision Making
  • _ The patient appears well, is in no respiratory distress, and does not meet the clinical inclusion criteria for COVID-19 testing. The patient is not in the high-risk category for flu testing and treatment with anti-viral medication. The lung exam does not support a diagnosis of pneumonia. The history and physical are inconsistent with pulmonary embolism.
  • Clinical Impression/Plan
  • _ Influenza-like illness/viral syndrome: The patient was counseled on self care: rest, staying hydrated, taking acetaminophen/ibuprofen for fever, and avoiding close contact with others fever-free for >24 hours. We discussed returning to the emergency department if fevers persist more than 5 days, they develop difficulty breathing, they are unable to tolerate liquids, or they become confused or develop neck stiffness.

==

==

  • Orchid electronic discharge available under “Understanding 2019 Novel Coronavirus”

COVID FAQ's

  • Carts in airborne precaution rooms only need to be wiped down - Zangwill 3/30
  • Reasonable to clamp ET tube after cardiac arrest death - Zangwill 3/30
  • Do NOT put patient info on pink armband - Martee 3/30
  • No morgue viewings of COVID patients - Dr. Bolaris 3/30
    • no Pt identifiers on outside pink tag - Nancy Blake 3/31
  • Homeless patients
    • If eligible for DC, need COVID test sent
    • Consult SW - DPH intake center 8a-8p; 833-596-1009

Flu/ILI

  • Influenza-like-illness (ILI) is defined as fever >100.0 F / 37.8 C AND cough or sore throat.
  • Per our DHS policy, please consider treatment for high-risk populations.
    • Antivirals for influenza are most effective when administered when symptoms have been present for <48 hours.
    • May benefit for severely ill patients who have had >48 hours of symptoms.
  • High risk patients for complications include:
  1. Age < 2 years or > 65 years
  2. Pregnancy
  3. Chronic disease. Chronic pulmonary (including asthma), cardiovascular (except hypertension), renal hepatic, hematological (including sickle cell disease), neurologic, neuromuscular, or metabolic disorders (including diabetes)
  4. Immune suppression, including that caused by medications or HIV
  5. Persons younger than 19 years of age who are receiving long term aspirin therpay
  • Don't send POC influenza test, due to low sensitivity (50-70%).
  • Please send the Biofire / Respiratory Panel PCR for admitted ILI patients.
  • Don't send POC RSV unless it will change your management.


Measles

  • Report suspected measles immediately to DPH
    • Weekdays 8:30 AM – 5 PM: call 888-397-3993
    • After-hours: call 213-974-1234 and ask for the physician on call.
  • Risk factors: international travel, never immunized of born after 1956
  • Symptoms
    • Fever, including subjective fever.
    • Rash that starts on the head and descends.
    • Usually 1 or 2 of the “3 Cs” – cough, coryza and conjunctivitis.

Hepatitis A

The County Department of Public Health has declared a Hepatitis A Outbreak in Los Angeles County and we are being asked in the emergency department to do our part to stem this outbreak.   In order to help we need to do the following things for all ADULTS (>18 years):  

  1. Suspect: Consider acute viral hepatitis, especially in homeless patients or patients using illicit drugs.
  2. Test: If you suspect the patient may have acute viral hepatitis, order appropriate serologic studies (Hep A IgM, Hep B Core IgM, Hep B Surface Ag, Hep C Antibody Ab.) These are all available in the "AMB Hepatitis Workup" order set. STAT 45 minute turnarounds for the Hep A IgM is available, must be ordered as a standalone STAT test from the ED Quick Orders Page. If it is bundled with other Hepatitis tests, the machine runs all of them, delaying the turnaround time.
  3. Report: All suspected and confirmed cases of Hepatits A should be immediately reported to both the Dept of Health at (888) 397-3993 or after hours (213) 974-1234 AND Harbor Infection Control at x3838 While Patient Is Still in the Emergency Department
  4. Vaccinate: Anyone (regardless of why they are here) who is or has been homeless in the last two months, or uses illicit drugs (NOT JUST IV; except marijuana) should be offered the initial dose of Hep A vaccine while in the ED (the Cerner order is "Hepatitis A adult vaccine" on ED Quick Orders Page). They can be referred to the Department of Health for their second injection in six months. Check the "immunizations" area in Cerner to make sure they are not already immunized.
  5. Protect Yourself: If you haven't gotten the hepatitis A vaccine, it is recommended that you go to employee health to get vaccinated.


Harbor Ebola Precautions

  • Never enter a room with an Ebola PUI (Person Under Investigation) without full Ebola level PPE.
  • The definition of a PUI is simple - possible exposure to Ebola and subjective complaints consistent with Ebola infection (basically viral syndrome symptoms or abdominal pain or bleeding). No fever or other visible findings are required to classify the patient as a PUI patient.
  • Currently countries identified as travel locations we should be concerned about are coded into the "ID Risk Screen" the routers perform and you can find on Cerner under "Provider Notes"
    • As of October 2022, outbreak is isolated in Uganda
  • There are other ways to be exposed to Ebola virus: including sexual intercourse with a patient who has recovered from an Ebola infection.
  • As soon as the patient is identified as a PUI - they should go straight into isolation (in AED or PED, not RME), ideally one with a restroom inside the room; all further evaluation is done there.
  • Residents should not be in a room with a PUI patient - only attendings and fellows acting as attendings should be involved in wearing PPE and entering a PUI room
  • Notify the infectious disease (ID) service that you have a PUI patient in the emergency department - they will guide further screening to determine if the patient can be cleared or not. ID will then notify infection control prevent (IPC).
  • PUI patients are not allowed to use the sink or toilet. Mechanical should bring a porta-potty for patient use if there is not one in the room.
  • The policy of the County of Los Angeles is that any provider may decline to care for a PUI patient. Nursing has a list of nurses who have volunteered to care for PUI patients.
  • Extreme care should be taken in any situation where a PUI patient may undergo a procedure that aerosolizes body fluids - the best PPE in this case is a PAPR unit - which is a helmet with a positive pressure fan.
  • Call the OCN to obtain a PAPR and PPE equipment for Ebola, put out a log to record who goes in and out of a PUI room.
  • In the top drawer of the Ebola PPE cart is a binder that has step by step instructions for getting into and out of PPE for both the treating provider and that provider's "buddy". We will plan more training to refresh everyone on this.
  • UCLA Medical Center in Westwood will be our referral center for patients who cannot be cleared in a reasonable timeframe' or become confirmed Ebola patients. The decision for the timing of transfer will be made in conjunction with the infectious disease consultant.
  • EMS has a special unit to transport such patients - make sure they're aware that you have a PUI or confirmed case of Ebola.

Monkeypox

  • See Monkeypox for clinical info
  • See LAC DHS Expected Practice
    • Consider in patients with travel history w/in 21d of symptom onset to West Africa, Europe (CDC link of non-endemic countries with cases)
    • Rash typically preceded by fever, lymphadenopathy, malaise, HA, and muscle aches, but not all patients have prodrome in current outbreak
    • Vesicular or pustular rash, well-circumscribed, may be umbilicated or become confluent and progress over time to scabs. Could be in different stages.
    • Higher likelihood in MSM patients, presenting with lesions in the genital area
  • Move directly to a private room, cover rash; airborne (N-95) and contact precautions (gown), eye protection, gloves - order special precautions
  • Call Lab x66289 and get a monkeypox collection kit from Microbiology
  • Unroof lesion to swab, try to get cutaneous and genital lesions. Need separate order for each swab.
  • Send out to Quest, 3days turnaround time
  • Put patient onto lab follow up list.
  • Inform patient to self isolate until all lesions scabbed over
  • If get a call for positive test, double check patient is on the lab follow up lists.
    • Lab will inform LA County Public Health and HUCLA Infection & Prevention Control
  • Treatment is tecovirimat (TPoxx) - experimental antiviral agent needs ID approval
    • For painful lesions preventing ability to do ADLs (unable to urinate/defecate, eat/drink), intraocular lesion
    • Obtain written consent or Spanish written consent
      • Only available in English and Spanish for now. Do verbal consent for other languages then have patient sign the English consent form
    • Write e-script using ‘misc prescription’
    • Fill out TNF form (prior-authorization form) and inform ED pharmacist
    • RN to call OPD to have someone send Tpoxx from Outpatient Pharmacy to ED (can be RN or pharmacy tech

See Also

References