COVID-19 Guidelines for Boulder County Healthcare Providers

Handling Inquiries from Symptomatic Patients

By Phone

If a patient calls concerned that they have symptoms of COVID-19, use information found on the CDPHE COVID-19 testing page to determine the need for testing.

In Office

1. If patient arrives in your office concerned about symptoms of COVID-19:
   • Mask and isolate them in a private room with the door closed AND
   • Ensure healthcare personnel entering the room use contact, droplet, AND airborne precautions, INCLUDING eye protection (e.g., goggles or face shield). (Airborne precautions include use of NIOSH-approved fit-tested N95 mask or higher.
2. Notify infection control personnel
3. Use information found on the CDPHE COVID-19 testing page to determine the need for testing.

Updated Guidance on Courier Pickup

Due to concerns for CDPHE courier safety, the CDPHE laboratory now requires that all couriers going to CDPHE receive all specimens (including newborn screening) from medical facilities and health departments in one of two ways: specimens are delivered to the courier in their vehicle OR courier is allowed access to the laboratory send- out area via a route that does not involve areas with patient traffic. COVID-19 specimens going to CDPHE are being handled with the following packaging requirements: UN3373 – Biological Substance, Category B

• Can be picked up in specimen bag or cooler.
• Must be triple packaged, at pick up (primary receptacle, secondary layer, rigid outer packaging).
• Must have proper labeling on package
  • UN3373 Biological Substance, Category B label.
    • Mass in kilograms must be included on label.
  • Class 9 Miscellaneous Hazard (if containing dry ice).

Test Results

CDPHE’s testing information for healthcare providers and local public health agencies.

Preparing to Receive Patients

1. Review the CDC checklist for transport and arrival of patients with confirmed or possible COVID-19
2. Check CDPHE and Boulder County Public Health websites to stay up-to-date
3. Review your infection prevention and control policies and CDC infection control recommendations for COVID-19 for:
   • Assessment and triage of patients with acute respiratory symptoms
   • Patient placement, visitor management, and exclusion
   • Implementation of Standard, Contact, and Airborne Precautions, including the use of eye protection
   • Source control measures for patients (e.g., put face mask on suspect patients)
   • Requirements for performing aerosol generating procedures

• Environmental cleaning guidance

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Guidance

Healthcare workers with close contact to a person suspected of COVID-19 should use the following precautions with proper donning, use, and doffing:

• Droplet precautions (e.g. gloves, gown), AND
• Airborne precautions, including eye protection (e.g., goggles or face shield). Airborne precautions include use of NIOSH-approved fit-tested N95 mask or higher.

Additional information for healthcare providers about COVID-19 is available on the CDPHE COVID-19 webpage.

Long-Term Care Facilities

• The CDC has issued specific guidance to long-term care facilities for strategies for preventing the spread of COVID-19.
• The general strategies the CDC recommends to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in long-term care facilities are the same strategies these facilities should use every day to detect and prevent the spread of other respiratory viruses like influenza.
• CDPHE information for long-term care facilities about COVID-19

Guidance and Resources for Healthcare Providers

Health care facilities should review their existing emergency preparedness plans and the following CDC guidance:

• Resources for Healthcare Facilities
  Health care mitigation strategies
• Steps Healthcare Facilities Can Take Now to Prepare for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
  Includes general steps that health care facilities can take now to prepare for COVID-19, including
  review of emergency preparedness plans, and processes for communication, protection of the
  workforce, and protection of patients
• Interim Guidance for Healthcare Facilities: Preparing for Community Transmission of COVID-19 in the United States
  Includes strategies for triage, healthcare worker utilization and safety, surge capacity, and considerations for outpatient, inpatient, and long-term care facilities
• Strategies to Prevent the Spread of COVID-19 in Long-Term Care Facilities (LTCF)
  Includes steps to prevent the spread of COVID-19 into and within facilities as well as to prevent inter-facility
  spread
• Strategies for Optimizing the Supply of N95 Respirators
  Includes conventional capacity, contingency capacity, and crisis alternate strategies
• Checklist for Healthcare Facilities: Strategies for Optimizing the Supply of N95 Respirators during the COVID-19 Response
  Includes strategies or options on how healthcare facilities can optimize supplies of disposable N95 filtering facepiece respirators when there is limited supply availability
• Release of Stockpiled N95 Filtering Facepiece Respirators Beyond the Manufacturer-Designated Shelf Life: Considerations for the COVID-19 Response
  Includes information that may be used to inform product release decisions
• Resources for Hospitals and Healthcare Professionals Preparing for Patients with Suspected or Confirmed COVID-19
  Includes checklists for healthcare providers and hospitals that identify key actions that can be taken now to enhance preparedness for potential or confirmed patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)

Learn More

• CDPHE COVID-19
• CDC COVID-19