Management & Maintenance of COVID-19 Patient Areas
When UMMS hospitals are providing care for multiple COVID-19 patients, it recommended that each hospital designate specific inpatient unit(s) and areas for COVID-19 patient care. The Guidance on Management, Maintenance & Decommissioning of COVID-19 Patient Areas, consulted in conjunction with the UMMS Tiered Approach to Infection Prevention Practices (UMMS Tiered Approach), supports the implementation and decommissioning of COVID-19 patient areas.
This policy was most recently updated on June 15, 2021 to reflect the current impact of COVID-19 on our System as well as the guidance outlined in the UMMS Tiered Approach.
Thank you for your continued commitment to ensuring a safe environment of work and care, for staff and patients alike.
Click here to view the Guidance on Management, Maintenance & Decommissioning of COVID-19 Patient Areas.
FAQs
Where have COVID-19 patient care areas been established?
COVID-19 patient care areas may be designed as single or semi-private individual patient room model on the same unit or part of a unit, or open bays with multiple patients, depending on the needs of each hospital. The use of one or more dedicated COVID-19 patient areas is preferred over housing COVID-19 patients in multiple locations among the general patient population in order to reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19 and allow team members to more efficiently deliver patient care and utilize personal protective equipment (PPE).
How have designated COVID-19 patient care areas been identified and marked?
COVID-19 designated areas have been clearly marked with signage that states the unit or room is a designated COVID-19 patient care area. Additionally, signage has been used to distinguish clean, contaminated, and transition zones.
What is a clean zone and what is it used for?
Clean or “cold” zones are uncontaminated areas, free of hazardous material. This space is used for team member entrance and donning, planning and staging, and team member breaks.
What is a transition zone and what is it used for?
Also referred to as a “warm” zone, this is the area on the unit where decontamination of PPE, equipment, and supplies takes place. This includes doffing of PPE, disinfecting of equipment and supplies that will leave the unit, and trash removal.
What is a contaminated zone and what is it used for?
These areas, also called “hot” zones, are where the highest potential for exposure to the virus exists. They may be limited to individual patient rooms or in units utilizing an open-bay model with a single, common air space, the entire patient care area including common spaces are considered contaminated.
How are deliveries from food and nutritional services within these units received and stored?
Food is handled by team members in the clean zone, then delivered to patient rooms by a team member wearing PPE.
What special considerations are accounted for in terms of PPE for team members working in designated COVID-19 areas?
We encourage team members working in these areas to eat a well-balanced meal, hydrate, and use the restroom prior to entering the designated COVID-19 area. All team members working in these areas utilize a disposable gown or suit, gloves, a respirator and eye protection for all patient contact. Closed-toe, non-skid shoes are worn, and shoe protectors are recommended. Additional PPE considerations depend on if the facility is using an open bay model or individual room model. Please see the full policy for more details.
What cleaning and disinfecting procedures will be in place for rooms or units that remain designated for COVID-19 care?
Cleaning and disinfecting procedures remain a joint effort between patient care team members on the unit and environmental services staff (EVS). Daily cleaning and disinfecting of rooms is the responsibility of unit and EVS team members. Terminal cleaning of rooms, upon patient discharge, is conducted by EVS team members. Both teams contribute to daily cleaning of common areas.
When is the time right to decommission (close) a dedicated COVID-19 patient area?
This decision will be made by each affiliate hospital, in accordance with patient volume data. As our COVID-19 response evolves, it may no longer be necessary to dedicate entire units or patient care areas to COVID-19. These decisions will be carefully made by hospital leadership and communicated to team members in a timely manner.
What steps will be taken to thoroughly clean and disinfect these areas, once a decision is made to close them?
A series of procedures are in place to ensure patient rooms, medical equipment, workstations, common areas and supply closets are thoroughly cleaned and disinfected, as part of the terminal cleaning process. Infection Prevention will conduct a post-terminal cleaning evaluation before the unit is restocked with equipment and supplies to support future patients.