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Analysis of a COVID-19 Prescreening Process in an Outpatient Clinic at a University Hospital during the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Choi, Ui Yoon; Jung, Seung Eun; Kim, Mi Sook; Oh, Hyang Sook; Kwon, Young Mi; Lee, Jehoon; Choi, Jung-Hyun.
  • Choi UY; Department of Pediatrics, Eunpyeong St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
  • Jung SE; Infection Control Department, Eunpyeong St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
  • Kim MS; Department of Radiology, Eunpyeong St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea. sejung@catholic.ac.kr.
  • Oh HS; Infection Control Department, Eunpyeong St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
  • Kwon YM; Infection Control Department, Eunpyeong St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
  • Lee J; Department of Performance Improvement, Eunpyeong St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
  • Choi JH; Infection Control Department, Eunpyeong St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
J Korean Med Sci ; 36(42): e295, 2021 Nov 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1497009
ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND:

To minimize nosocomial infection against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), most hospitals conduct a prescreening process to evaluate the patient or guardian of any symptoms suggestive of COVID-19 or exposure to a COVID-19 patient at entrances of hospital buildings. In our hospital, we have implemented a two-level prescreening process in the outpatient clinic an initial prescreening process at the entrance of the outpatient clinic (PPEO) and a second prescreening process is repeated in each department. If any symptoms or epidemiological history are identified at the second level, an emergency code is announced through the hospital's address system. The patient is then guided outside through a designated aisle. In this study, we analyze the cases missed in the PPEO that caused the emergency code to be applied.

METHODS:

All cases reported from March 2020 to April 2021 were analyzed retrospectively. We calculated the incidence of cases missed by the PPEO per 1,000 outpatients and compared the incidence between first-time hospital visitors and those visiting for the second time or more; morning and afternoon office hours; and days of the week.

RESULTS:

During the study period, the emergency code was applied to 449 cases missed by the PPEO. Among those cases, 20.7% were reported in otorhinolaryngology, followed by 11.6% in gastroenterology, 5.8% in urology, and 5.8% in dermatology. Fever was the most common symptom (59.9%), followed by cough (19.8%). The incidence of cases per 1,000 outpatients was significantly higher among first-time visitors than among those visiting for the second time or more (1.77 [confidence interval (CI), 1.44-2.10] vs. 0.59 [CI, 0.52-0.65], respectively) (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION:

Fever was the most common symptom missed by the PPEO, and otorhinolaryngology and gastroenterology most frequently reported missed cases. Cases missed by the PPEO were more likely to occur among first-time visitors than returning visitors. The results obtained from this study can provide insights or recommendations to other healthcare facilities in operating prescreening processes during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Mass Screening / Cough / Fever / Ambulatory Care Facilities / COVID-19 Type of study: Diagnostic study / Experimental Studies / Observational study / Prognostic study Limits: Adolescent / Adult / Aged / Child / Female / Humans / Male / Middle aged / Young adult Language: English Journal: J Korean Med Sci Journal subject: Medicine Year: 2021 Document Type: Article

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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Mass Screening / Cough / Fever / Ambulatory Care Facilities / COVID-19 Type of study: Diagnostic study / Experimental Studies / Observational study / Prognostic study Limits: Adolescent / Adult / Aged / Child / Female / Humans / Male / Middle aged / Young adult Language: English Journal: J Korean Med Sci Journal subject: Medicine Year: 2021 Document Type: Article