UMMS Emergency Department Guideline for Rapid Evaluation of Patients Presenting With COVID-19 Exposure or Illness
The UMMS Emergency Department Guideline for Rapid Evaluation of Presenting Patients With COVID-19 Exposure or Illness was established to address the current overcrowding of our Emergency Departments (EDs). During a time when an overwhelming number of people are presenting to our EDs with COVID-19 exposure or illness, we must conserve our resources for those most in need of immediate care. This guideline puts in place a procedure for distinguishing between patients with asymptomatic or mild symptoms and patients with more severe illness.
Included in the guidelines are symptoms and risk factors for which practitioners should screen patients. Based on the presence of symptoms and risk factors, practitioners will determine whether patients can be referred to community testing sites or should be triaged for care in the ED.
Click here to view the UMMS Emergency Department Guideline for Rapid Evaluation of Patients Presenting With COVID-19 Exposure or Illness.
FAQs
Is a medical screening exam required for every patient who presents to the ED reporting a COVID-19 exposure and requesting COVID-19 testing?
No. If a patient presents to the ED for COVID-19 testing only and does not have COVID-19 symptoms, a medical screening exam is not required. These patients can be referred to community testing sites.
When is a medical screening exam required for patients who present to the ED reporting a COVID-19 exposure and requesting COVID-19 testing?
Patients who present with even mild symptoms consistent with COVID-19 (e.g., fever, cough, sore throat, nausea and vomiting, loss of taste or smell) must receive a medical screening exam by a qualified medical professional. If the provider determines through the medical screening exam that no emergent medical condition exists, the provider may refer the patient to community testing sites. Importantly, clinical judgment supersedes this and all procedures outlined in the guideline.
When should a patient who presents to the ED reporting a COVID-19 exposure or illness be evaluated further in the ED (instead of being referred to community testing sites)?
The UMMS Emergency Department Guideline for Rapid Evaluation of Patients Presenting With COVID-19 Exposure or Illness provides a list of abnormalities or risk factors for providers to reference in determining whether a patient should be triaged for care in the ED. Importantly, providers should always exercise clinical judgment in making these determinations. Clinical judgment supersedes all procedures outlined in the guideline.
How can EDs encourage asymptomatic patients presenting for COVID-19 testing only to seek testing elsewhere?
EDs should post signage at the entrances and in other prominent locations to instruct patients who are asymptomatic and requesting COVID-19 testing to seek testing at one of Maryland’s community testing sites.