Table 1.

Desired characteristics of an EHR for infection prevention during a global pandemic

EMR component	Relevance to COVID-19 pandemic	Comment
Real-time modifiable patient lists or tracking boards visible on demand – with pertinent safety information	Multiple stakeholders need real-time updates of patient isolation status	Issue existed prior to COVID-19 – Deficiency of diagnosis specific patient tracking list is amplified during a pandemic
Automatic generation of appropriate isolation orders based on COVID-19 order and patient symptoms	IP nurses have to manually enter droplet or airborne precautions for all COVID-19 PUIs	Risk of COVID-19 exposure if isolation orders not in place
Automatic IP alert of COVID-19 PUIs and positive patients regardless of where or when order placed	IP nurses are not consistently aware of COVID-19 PUIs and positive patients	IP nurses must be aware of all COVID-19 suspects and confirmed cases to provide guidance to frontline staff and oversight of IP practices

EMR, electronic medical record; COVID-19, coronavirus disease; IP, infection preventionist; PUI, person under investigation for COVID-19.