Special COVID-19 Webinar: The Impact of COVID-19 on HBPC Providers, Practices and Patients

UWHealth COVID-19 Resources

Pdf Summary

The University of Wisconsin's COVID-19 Hub provides comprehensive guidelines to help manage and prevent the spread of COVID-19 in various settings. For households with symptomatic or confirmed COVID-19 cases, close contacts should monitor health, adhere to medical instructions, and minimize interaction with the patient. The patient should remain isolated in a separate room if possible, and hygiene practices, including frequent handwashing and using personal protective equipment, must be followed diligently. High-touch surfaces should be cleaned daily, and shared items should not be reused without thorough washing.<br /><br />For managing COVID-19 in homeless patients, the protocol outlines the use of hotel stays for self-isolation, coordinated through referrals by healthcare providers to the Salvation Army. The process involves obtaining patient consent, reviewing and signing participant agreements, and ensuring proper transportation to the isolation facility. Strict adherence to isolation guidelines and rules is required to maintain eligibility for hotel vouchers.<br /><br />Ambulatory testing criteria specify testing priorities based on exposure risk and symptoms, emphasizing that mild and asymptomatic individuals typically should not be tested but should self-isolate. For those with confirmed COVID-19, detailed instructions are provided for at-home care and symptom monitoring. The importance of isolating from others within the home and preventing the spread through droplets and contaminated surfaces is highlighted.<br /><br />Healthcare workers are also given specific instructions regarding personal protective equipment (PPE) for different risk scenarios, ranging from general care to high-risk aerosol-generating procedures. Recommendations include the use of barrier/procedure/surgical masks for lower risk interactions and N95 respirators or PAPRs for higher risk scenarios. The cleaning and reuse protocols for PAPR, face shields, and goggles are also outlined. High-risk aerosol-producing procedures and their mitigation strategies are elaborated upon to protect healthcare workers, ensuring the effective and safe treatment of COVID-19 patients.<br /><br />All these measures are aimed at minimizing transmission, ensuring proper care for patients, and maintaining healthcare worker safety. The document underscores the need for ongoing updates and adherence to the latest guidelines available on the COVID-19 hub.

Keywords

COVID-19

University of Wisconsin

guidelines

household management

homeless patients

self-isolation

testing criteria

personal protective equipment

healthcare workers

transmission prevention