COVID-19 Resource Catalog-Opening America: Re-opening Non-emergent Healthcare

Opening America: Re-opening Non-emergent Healthcare

Pdf Summary

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued recommendations for re-opening healthcare facilities to provide non-emergent non-COVID-19 healthcare in Phase I of the reopening process. These recommendations take into account the low or relatively low and stable incidence of COVID-19 in certain areas. It is important to be flexible and allow facilities to provide care for patients needing non-emergent, non-COVID-19 healthcare.<br /><br />Telehealth is strongly encouraged, but for care that cannot be done virtually, healthcare systems and facilities can consider resuming in-person care for non-COVID-19 patients in regions with low incidence of the disease. This should be done in coordination with state and local public health officials, and careful planning is required.<br /><br />General considerations for resuming non-COVID-19 care include evaluating the incidence and trends of COVID-19 in the area, prioritizing necessary care, establishing Non-COVID Care (NCC) zones for screening patients and staff, ensuring sufficient resources are available, conserving personal protective equipment (PPE), screening staff for symptoms and limiting their exposure to COVID-19 Care zones, creating separate areas for non-COVID-19 care, implementing social distancing measures within the facility, prohibiting visitors or screening them if necessary, establishing sanitation protocols, ensuring adequate supplies, and implementing testing procedures for patients and staff.<br /><br />Facilities should continually evaluate the risk of incidence and be prepared to cease non-essential procedures if there is a surge in COVID-19 cases. Following these recommendations can allow for the safe extension of in-person non-emergent care in select communities and facilities.

Keywords

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

re-opening healthcare facilities

non-emergent non-COVID-19 healthcare

Phase I

recommendations

Telehealth

in-person care

low incidence of COVID-19

public health officials

social distancing measures