ACEP COVID-19 Field Guide

Table of Contents

ACEP COVID-19 Field Guide
Publisher’s Notice
The COVID-19 Pandemic
Introduction
General Information on COVID-19
Home Safety
Preparing for Work
Returning From Work
Self-Isolation
Return-to-Work Criteria
Work Safety
ACEP Statements on PPE for COVID-19
Appropriate PPE
Aerosolization
Facility Changes
EMS
Personnel Safety
Cardiac Arrest Resuscitation in the COVID-19 Era
Air Method Guidelines for the Care of Patients With Suspected or Confirmed COVID-19
Triage
How COVID-19 and Other Infectious Diseases Move Within a Hospital
Vaccinations
Vaccinations and Prevention
Characteristics of COVID-19 Variants and Mutants
Characteristics of COVID-19 Variants and Mutants
Patient Presentation
Signs and Symptoms
Assessment
Laboratory Abnormalities
Chest X-ray and CT
Ultrasound
Ultrasound Cleaning
Diagnosis
Testing
Severity and Progression of Disease
Long-Term Sequelae of COVID-19: Post–COVID-19 or Long COVID Syndrome
Risk Stratification and Evaluation
Populations at Risk
Evaluation Pathway for Patients With Possible COVID-19
Quarantine and Isolation for Patients
Treatment
Management of Patients With COVID-19
Critical Issues in the Management of Adult Patients Presenting With Community-Acquired Pneumonia
Alternative Treatments
Acute Cardiomyopathy or Heart Failure
Cardiac Arrest
Discharge: Expected Recovery
Discharge to Home Palliative Care
ICU Care in the Emergency Department
Ventilators
Special Populations
Health Care Workers
Law Enforcement
Racial and Ethnic Minority Groups
Elderly Patients
Immunocompromised Patients
Pregnant Patients and Pregnancy
Pediatric Patients
Homeless Patients
Dialysis Patients
Psychiatric Patients
Behavioral Health Patients
Patients With Substance Use Disorders
Immigrants
Incarcerated Population
Financial Guidance and Information
Billing and Coding for COVID-19 Care
Regulations and Liability
EMTALA Enforcement During Disasters and Public Health Emergencies
Personal Well-Being and Resilience
ACEP Offers, Wellness, and Counseling Services
Burnout, Self-Care, and COVID-19 Exposure for First Responders
Critical Incident Stress Information
Managing Patient and Family Distress Associated with COVID-19 in the Prehospital Care Setting
ACEP Policy on Visitation and Custody
Historical Information from the First Edition of the ACEP COVID-19 Field Guide
Interim Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for Health Care Personnel During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Impact on Research
Change to Education Policies
Licensure and Credentialing
Telehealth and Tele-Triage
Quick Guide to a Basic Tele-Triage Program

ACEP Policy on Visitation and Custody

Personal Well-Being and Resilience

Emergency physicians, along with emergency nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurses, and others, are on the front line in this pandemic, but they are also human beings who need and deserve the comfort of their families when they are off duty.

Emergency physicians are trained in proper precautions to significantly reduce the risk to themselves as well as their families. ACEP requests that the pandemic and the work that our colleagues are doing not be a factor in custody or visitation disputes.

Download the official family visitation letter for use in legal proceedings.

Managing Patient and Family Distress Associated with COVID-19 in the Prehospital Care Setting

Interim Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for Health Care Personnel During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Historical Information from the First Edition of the ACEP COVID-19 Field Guide

Impact on Research

The COVID-19 pandemic had a radical impact on biomedical research. Funding was massively increased, ...

Historical Information from the First Edition of the ACEP COVID-19 Field Guide

Change to Education Policies

Medical students and COVID-19 Joint Statement on Education and Safety Considerations The American C...

Historical Information from the First Edition of the ACEP COVID-19 Field Guide

Licensure and Credentialing

Furloughs of residents and fellows The ACGME has stated that furloughs (defined as an “involuntary a...