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. 2020 May 11:1–8. doi: 10.1017/ice.2020.218

Table 2.

Ability (ie, policies, supplies, facilities and other resources) to manage a suspected SARS-CoV-2 case

Preparedness Element CAHs n (%), (N=21) ACHs n (%), (N=11) All Hospitals n (%), (N=32)
Has your institution developed any definition for identifying a person under investigation (PUI) for COVID-19/SARS-CoV-2 infection?(Yes) 18 (88) 10 (91) 28 (88)
What precautions are you planning to implement if a COVID-19 PUI comes to your facility?
 Airborne precautions alone 2 (10) 1 (9) 3 (9)
 Airborne, contact precautions 6 (29) 2 (18) 8 (25)
 Airborne precautions, eye protection devices a 1 (5) 0 1 (3)
 Airborne and contact precautions, eye protection devices a 3 (14) 3 (27) 6 (19)
 Airborne, droplet, and contact, precautions, eye protection devices a 8 (38) 5 (45) 13 (41)
 Droplet precautions alone 1 (5) 0 1 (3)
Are providers at your hospital obtaining a detailed travel history for patients being evaluated with fever and acute respiratory illness? (Yes) 21 (100) 11 (100) 32 (100)
When scheduling appointments, are any special instructions being provided to patients by your institution?
 
  • –

    Patients should wear a face mask upon arrival if they have any symptoms of respiratory infection (eg, cough, runny nose, fever)

 7 (33) 1 (9) 8 (25)
 
  • –

    Patients and accompanying persons should wear a face mask upon arrival if they have symptoms of any respiratory infection (eg, cough, runny nose, fever)

 12 (57) 6 (55) 18 (56)
 
  • –

    No special instructions provided but there are posters indicating wearing a face mask upon arrival if they have any symptoms of respiratory infection (eg, cough, runny nose, fever)

 0 1 (9) 1 (3)
 
  • –

    No special instructions

 2 (10) 3 (27) 5 (16)
Hospital has negative-pressure isolation rooms (airborne infection isolation rooms, or AIIRs) 17 (81) 11 (100) 28 (88)
Designated room or space for a patient with suspected SARS-CoV-2 infection at your institution? 18 (86) 10 (91) 28 (88)
Eye protection devices a are available upon entry to the patient room or care area in following locations:
 Emergency departments 20 (95) 9 (82) 29 (91)
 Employee health offices (n=15 for CAHs, n=26 for all hospitals) 7 (47) 6 (55) 13 (50)
 Inpatient units 20 (95) 11 (100) 31 (97)
 Primary care and specialty clinics 15 (71) 7 (64) 22 (69)
 Urgent care (n=14 for CAHs, n=25 for all hospitals) 8 (57) 7 (64) 15 (60)
Hospital has transport plan (to minimize transmission) for moving patients with suspected SARS-CoV-2 cases from emergency room or clinic to designated areas in the institution 14 (67) 10 (91) 24 (75)
Hospital has pre-arrival precautions for a suspected SARS-CoV-2 case:
 Designated hospital entrance 7 (33) 4 (36) 11 (34)
 Availability of face masks near patient entrance 21 (100) 11 (100) 32 (100)
 Alcohol-hand sanitizer dispenser near the entrance 21 (100) 11 (100) 32 (100)
 Procedure for isolating suspected case prior to or as soon as possible after entry into the hospital 19 (90) 11 (100) 30 (94)
How are you planning to manage visitor access and movement within the hospital?
 
  • –

    Restrict visitors from entering the room of known or suspected SARS-CoV-2 patients unless essential

 17 (81) 10 (91) 27 (84)
 
  • –

    Use video-call applications on cell phones or tablets for visitor interaction with patients

 3 (14) 2 (18) 5 (16)
 
  • –

    Maintain a logbook of all visitors who enter patient rooms

 4 (19) 3 (27) 7 (22)
 
  • –

    Visitors should not be present during aerosol-generating procedures

 9 (43) 8 (73) 17 (53)
 
  • –

    In process of modifying or developing new guidance for visitor access and movement

 9 (43) 4 (36) 13 (41)
Visual alerts (eg, signs, posters) about hand hygiene, respiratory hygiene, and cough etiquette in your institution:
 Cafeteria 4 (19) 4 (36) 8 (25)
 Elevators (n=16 for CAHs) 6 (38) 5 (45) 11 (41)
 Hospital entrance 20 (95) 11 (100) 31 (97)
 Emergency room 18 (86) 9 (82) 27 (84)
 Urgent care (n=14 for CAHs) 13 (93) 8 (73) 21 (84)
 Waiting areas 18 (86) 9 (82) 27 (84)
Does your institution have sufficient stocks of the following personal protective equipment (PPE) on hand to manage the anticipated patient volume associated with the outbreak? (affirmative responses)
 Gowns 19 (90) 11 (100) 30 (94)
 N95 masks 14 (67) 10 (91) 24 (75)
 Surgical masks for patients/visitors 20 (95) 10 (91) 30 (94)
 Face shields 15 (71) 11 (100) 26 (81)
 Eye protection devices 13 (62) 10 (91) 23 (72)

Note. CAH, critical access hospital; ACH, acute-care hospital.

a

Goggles, a disposable face shield that covers the front and sides of the face.