ACEP COVID-19 Field Guide
Table of Contents
- ACEP COVID-19 Field Guide
- Publisher’s Notice
- Introduction
- Preparing for Work
- Returning from Work
- COVID-19 Aerosol and Surface Stability
- Self-Isolation
- Guidance for Health Care Personnel Regarding Exposure
- Safety Practices for Health Care Workers Who May Have Had Exposure to a Person With Suspected or Confirmed COVID-19
- Return to Work Criteria With Confirmed or Suspected COVID-19
- ACEP Statements on PPE
- Appropriate PPE
- Aerosolization
- Facility Changes
- Ultrasound Cleaning
- Personnel Safety
- Cardiac Arrest Resuscitation in the COVID-19 Era
- Air Method Guidelines for the Care of Patients With Suspected or Confirmed COVID-19
- Health Care Professional Preparedness Checklist For Transport and Arrival of Patients With Confirmed or Possible COVID-19
- How COVID-19 Moves Within a Hospital
- Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for Patient Arrival and Triage
- Medical Screening Examinations
- Telehealth and Tele-Triage
- Quick Guide to a Basic Tele-Triage Program
- Risk Stratification and Triage in Urgent Care
- Vaccinations
- Characteristics of COVID-19 Variants and Mutants
- Signs and Symptoms
- Laboratory Abnormalities
- Chest X-Ray and CT
- Ultrasound
- Testing
- Severity and Progression of Disease
- Populations at Risk
- Evaluation Pathway for Patients with Possible COVID-19
- Management of Patients With COVID-19
- Critical Issues in the Management of Adult Patients Presenting With Community-Acquired Pneumonia
- Alternative Treatments
- Acute Cardiomyopathy or Heart Failure
- Acute Myocardial Infarction
- Cardiac Arrest
- Discharge: Expected Recovery
- Discharge to Home Palliative Care
- ICU Care in the Emergency Department
- Ventilators
- Health Care Workers
- Law Enforcement
- Racial and Ethnic Minority Groups
- Elderly Patients
- Immunocompromised Patients
- Pregnant Patients and Pregnancy
- Pediatric Patients
- Homeless Patients
- Dialysis Patients
- Psychiatric Patients
- Behavioral Health Patients
- Patients With Substance Use Disorders
- Immigrants
- Incarcerated Population
- Financial Resources
- Billing and Coding for COVID Care
- EMTALA
- State Waiver of Liability
- Other Federal Updates and Guidance
- ACEP Offers, Wellness, and Counseling Services
- Burnout, Self-Care, and COVID-19 Exposure for First Responders
- Critical Incident Stress Information
- Managing Patient and Family Distress Associated with COVID-19 in the Prehospital Care Setting
- ACEP Policy on Visitation and Custody
- Impact on Research
- Change to Education Policies
- Licensure and Credentialing
Preparing for Work
Author: Kelly Gray-Eurom, MD, MMM, FACEP, Chief Quality Officer/Assistant Dean for Quality and Safety, Professor of Emergency Medicine UFCOM
Minimize the number of items you bring to work, which will decrease the number of items that must be decontaminated after your shift. Keep it simple — bring only the essentials.
Items to consider bringing to work
- Easily washable or easy-to-wipe bag
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- Use cotton tote bags or plastic “stadium” bags, which work great.
- Use cotton tote bags or plastic “stadium” bags, which work great.
- Change of scrubs or clothes
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- Don’t forget socks and undergarments.
- Don’t forget socks and undergarments.
- Closed shoes that can be easily wiped down or laundered
- Scrub cap, personal protective equipment (PPE), and eye protection
- One credit or debit card
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- Self-swipe when purchasing items, if possible.
- Self-swipe when purchasing items, if possible.
- Driver’s license
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- Leave it in the car, if possible.
- Leave it in the car, if possible.
- Car, work, and home keys
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- Only bring the ones you will use during your shift; leave the others in the car, if possible.
- Cell phone
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- Place it in a disposable bag to make cleaning easier post shift, if possible.
- Place it in a disposable bag to make cleaning easier post shift, if possible.
- Something personal that helps your well-being
Nutrition
Hopefully, you will have the opportunity to doff PPE during your shift to eat and hydrate. On-the-go snack ideas include:
- High-calorie, low-volume foods that are easy to eat quickly and with one hand, such as protein bars, yogurt in squeeze containers, and wrapped cheese snacks; and
- Drinks in closed containers that can be discarded when you are done or those in an easy-to-decontaminate reusable container.
Seriously consider whether any other items are necessary. Do you need it for patient care? Do you need it for your personal care? Can it be easily decontaminated after your shift? If the answer is no, leave it at home. Prepare yourself mentally and physically. Do the things that help calm your psyche before a shift. Try to keep the “normals” that you can keep. You are the most important thing that you bring to work. Keeping you safe, sane, and healthy is the best thing that you can do for your patients, your family, and your well-being.
