Trauma & Emergency Unit - Guidelines

Covid Screening And Management of PUI / COVID +ve Patient

Trauma and Emergency entrance

- Screened by Professional Nurse

Stable suspect identified

o surgical mask issued to patient and directed to TB focal point to be tested.

o Patient managed by medical officers T.B. focal point.

o Patient given symptomatic treatment and advised to self-isolate -

- asked to present if condition worsens.

Ill patient –P U I (Self referral / Paramedic / Accepted from other institution)

o Patient issued surgical mask

o Taken to resuscitation area for triage

o If self-referral seen by trauma and emergency doctor and expedited referral

to medical registrar on call.

o If accepted by any discipline – triaged by professional nurse

Accepting doctor informed immediately of patients arrival.

** If patient unstable, trauma & emergency doctor informed immediately to

commence resuscitation while accepting registrar arrives.

Ill patient with Positive COVID Swab (Self referral / Paramedic / Accepted from other
institution)

o Patient issued surgical mask

o Taken to short stay ward for triage

o If self-referral seen by trauma and emergency doctor and expedited referral

to medical registrar on call.

o If accepted by any discipline – triaged by professional nurse

Accepting doctor informed immediately of patients arrival.

** If patient unstable trauma & emergency doctor informed immediately to

commence resuscitation while accepting registrar arrives.
All patients have COVID swab in isolation prior to admission

Stable patient with Positive COVID Swab (Self referral / Paramedic requiring minor
procedure or rehydration etc)

o Patient issued surgical mask

o Taken to short stay ward for management until discharge

Challenges :

- No dedicated Professional nurse at screening – most often E.N.A.

- No dedicated nursing staff for Short Stay Area. Adds to waiting time for triage and
management esp. afterhours.

- Inadequate Medical Officer and intern compliment to meet surge of patients

- currently Paediatric providing additional intern cover.

- Patient thoroughfare – difficult to control due to other clinics in operation.

Repeated meeting with security and systems manager with little success.