Open AccessResponding to the COVID-19 Pandemic
Author(s) -
SherLu Pai,
Joan M. Irizarry-Alvarado,
Nancy E Pitruzzello,
Wendelyn Bosch,
Stephen Aniskevich
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
american journal of medical quality
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.592
H-Index - 53
eISSN - 1555-824X
pISSN - 1062-8606
DOI - 10.1177/1062860620946741
Subject(s) - medicine , asymptomatic , pandemic , covid-19 , multidisciplinary approach , elective surgery , multidisciplinary team , medical emergency , health care , personal protective equipment , disease , emergency medicine , intensive care medicine , surgery , nursing , infectious disease (medical specialty) , pathology , social science , sociology , economics , economic growth , outbreak
During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the study institution recognized the importance of providing preoperative COVID-19 testing and symptom screening to ensure patient safety. A multidisciplinary quality improvement team used Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, and Control methodology to understand the issues, identify solutions, and streamline patient flow. The existing preoperative evaluation (POE) clinic was utilized as a centralized entity to provide COVID-19 testing, symptom screening, and infection prevention education in addition to routine preoperative medical optimization. With the new process, the percentage of patients with COVID-19 testing results returned before surgery increased from 10% to 100%. Of the 593 asymptomatic patients screened by the POE clinic, 2 were found to have positive results. These patients had their surgeries postponed until proper recovery. The study institution has extended this new process to all surgical patients, warranting facility readiness for the resumption of elective surgery.