The Evaluation Of Patient Treatment Needs In The Emergency Room Amidst Covid-19 Pandemic
March 20, 2020Categories: COVID-19, Emergency Medicine
Tags: COVID-19, Emergency Medicine
The triage tents set up outside of our Emergency Departments at Garnet Health Medical Center and Garnet Health Medical Center – Catskills are not public testing facilities and are a part of our alternate triage area process.
If you suspect that you are infected with coronavirus COVID-19, or have been in contact with someone with coronavirus, do not go to the hospital or to your doctor. You could infect other people including much-needed healthcare workers.
Contact your local health department and follow their advice.
- In Orange County call 845-291-2330
- In Sullivan call 845-292-5910
To register for COVID-19 testing, contact the state Department of Health COVID-19 hotline at 1-888-364-3065. The hotline is operational 24/7.
How Our Triage Area Process Works
When patients arrive at our facilities, if they are not brought in by ambulance, any seriously ill or injured patients are met outside of our ED main entrance at a clinical screening checkpoint to ask patients about influenza like illness symptoms, such as:
- Cough
- Fever
- Shortness of breath
- Sore throat, etc.
The screening process and procedure follows the Center of Disease Control and Department of Health guidelines established for COVID-19. If the screening is positive, our staff then follow a developed algorithm based on presenting symptoms and isolation requirements.
Testing Patients for COVID-19
Decisions on which patients we collect specimens from are based on the local epidemiology of COVID-19, as well as the clinical course of illness. Providers work with the County Department of Health for guidance.
A specialized specimen collection kit, specific for COVID-19, and only provided by outside testing laboratories, is currently used. The CDC recommends collecting upper respiratory (both nose and throat swabs), and lower respiratory (sputum, if possible) for those patients with productive coughs. Collected samples are then sent away to the laboratory.
Looking for Coronavirus Public Testing?
Again, the triage tents set up outside Garnet Health Medical Center and Garnet Health Medical Center – Catskills are NOT for public testing purposes. The New York State Department of Health has set up a drive-through public testing center at Anthony Wayne Recreational Testing site in Harriman State Park by appointment only. They will be screening patients so not everyone will be tested on demand. The site, which is by appointment only, will be open daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m
To register for COVID-19 testing, contact the state Department of Health COVID-19 hotline at 1-888-364-3065. The hotline is operational 24/7.