Table 4.
Specific Roles of C‐FIT During the COVID‐19 Crisis
| Role | Description |
|---|---|
| Consultant | C‐FIT managed cardiology consultations for all COVID‐19 units (ICU, PCU, RMF). Reasons include ACS, ↑biomarkers, AF, CHF, MOSF, VDRF, AKI, VTE, ↑QT. Rely on chart review, telephone contact with the patient, and direct communication with primary service. The consultation teams consisted of ≥1 cardiology attendings and ≥1 C‐FIT. |
| ICU‐L | C‐FIT placed central and arterial lines; participated in daily rounds with the ICU team and provided collaborative critical care management of ICU patients. C‐FIT assisted critical care teams with management of cardiovascular comorbidities, emergency procedures, and handheld portable echocardiography when necessary. C‐FIT were supervised by critical care attendings. C‐FIT also responded to cardiac emergencies in non–COVID‐19 patients (especially during night shift). |
| Medical service | C‐FIT function as a member of the primary IM hospitalist team for the general medical COVID‐19 services. The teams consisted of 1 cardiology attending, 1 C‐FIT, and physician extenders. |
| CCU | Non–COVID‐19 cardiac ICU patients are managed by the COVID‐19 cardiology consultation teams during the day and covered by the C‐FIT on the ICU‐L team at night. |
| Other | C‐FIT performed remote ECG interpretation and assessment of QT intervals; adjudicated need for echocardiography and 12‐lead ECGs on COVID‐19 patients, assisted with “virtual” COVID‐19 consultations to support on‐site CCs, participated in research and quality assurance projects as permissible. |
ACS indicates acute coronary syndrome; AF, atrial fibrillation; AKI, acute kidney injury; CC, COVID‐19 cardiology consultation team; CCU, coronary care unit; C‐FIT, cardiology fellows in training; CHF, congestive heart failure; COVID‐19, coronavirus disease 2019; ICU, intensive care unit; ICU‐L, ICU team for central lines; IM, internal medicine; MOSF, multiorgan system failure; PCU, progressive care unit; RMF, regular medical floor; VDRF, ventilator‐dependent respiratory failure; and VTE, venous thromboembolism.