COVID-19 is a respiratory disease caused by a new strain of coronavirus that was first detected in China and which has now been diagnosed in 60 locations internationally, including in the United States. The virus has been named SARS-CoV-2 and the disease it causes has been named coronavirus disease 2019, abbreviated COVID-19. On January 30, 2020, the International Health Regulations Emergency Committee of the World Health Organization declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern.

The coronavirus protocols include appropriate questions to screen patients who may be at risk as well as dispositions based on symptoms and exposure. The protocols also contain pertinent information from a public health reporting perspective to help prevent the spread of the virus. To learn more about COVID-19, see information from the World Health Organization. More cases of COVID-19 are likely to be identified in the coming days and weeks, including more cases in the United States. It’s also likely that person-to-person spread will continue to occur, including in the United States.

After reviewing TriageLogic’s nurse triage response to the virus, a large hospital coordinating its own response shared the following comment, “TriageLogic’s thoroughness, adherence to Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidance and protocols look great. We appreciate how notifications to clinics and/or Departments of Health are integrated into these as well.”

At this time, there is no vaccine to protect against COVID-19 and no medications approved to treat it. According to the CDC, nonpharmaceutical interventions are the most important response strategy.

As the virus outbreak continues to evolve, TriageLogic will provide its clients with the latest information to allow for the best-possible patient care. Contact us today if you have questions about our protocols, or if you would like our triage nurses to be available to answer your patient phone calls.