Strategies to prevent COVID-19 transmission in the emergency department of a regional base hospital in Korea: From index patient until pandemic declaration

Jong-Hak Park, Seong-Geun Lee, Sejoong Ahn, Joo Yeong Kim, Juhyun Song, Sungwoo Moon, Hanjin Cho, Jong-Hak Park, Seong-Geun Lee, Sejoong Ahn, Joo Yeong Kim, Juhyun Song, Sungwoo Moon, Hanjin Cho

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to describe the timely strategies used to prevent the spread of the emerging coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and present the activities performed in a regional base hospital in South Korea, from the identification of the index patient until the pandemic declaration.

Methods: This is a descriptive study detailing the step-by-step guidelines implemented to manage COVID-19 in a regional tertiary base hospital from January to March 2020. We described our three-phase response to the COVID-19 outbreak as per the national and global quarantine procedures applied during each critical event and highlighted the activities implemented from the perspective of public health crisis preparedness involving emerging infectious diseases.

Results: During the COVID-19 outbreak in Korea, we improved and implemented a rapid and flexible screening system for visiting patients using patient history and radiological testing and created a separate isolation zone for patients under investigation. This active identification-isolation strategy has been effectively applied in the COVID-19 outbreak.

Conclusions: The step-by-step enforced strategies to prevent the spread of COVID-19, though not perfect, adequately reduced the risk of transmission of the highly contagious infectious disease in the hospital while maintaining the emergency medical system.

Keywords: COVID-19; Disease outbreaks; Emergency service; Infection control; Quarantine.

Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of Competing Interest None.

Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Schematic diagram of the major chronological events based on organizational actions.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Number of diagnostic PCR tests according to the increase of confirmed patients. PCR, polymerase chain reaction.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Flexible remodeling of ED workflow according to the current status of COVID-19. ED, emergency department; COVID-19, coronavirus disease 2019.
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Diagram of the ED's management of patient workflow. ED, emergency department.

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Source: PubMed

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