Stony Brook Eastern Long Island Hospital Screening Process for Patients Presenting with Symptoms
- All patients who present to the institution, both to ambulatory sites and the Emergency Department, are screened on arrival using the CDC recommendations.
- Questions include fever or symptoms of acute respiratory illness such as cough and difficulty breathing. In addition to travel history, patients are asked about exposure to known cases of COVID-19 in the last 14 days before symptom onset.
- Should a patient arrive at the hospital with cough or fever, they are directed to put on a mask before entering the ED.
- Anyone who the clinician believes is a suspected case of COVID-19 is immediately placed on respiratory isolation, and infection control and the Department of Health is contacted.
- Anyone from across Long Island, not just in Suffolk, who has contacted the New York State Department of Health at 888-364-3065 and has been deemed high risk or symptomatic by DOH will be tested. Anyone who believes they’re at risk should call the DOH Hotline, 888-364-3065, and talk to experts to determine if and how they should be tested.
- Isolation is strictly enforced. The CDC has guidelines to limit staff exposure to these potentially infected COVID-19 patients before test results are available.
- Nursing, physician and ancillary staff involved in the care of these patients have been trained in appropriate precautions.
- We are making contingency plans should we see a surge of patients that exceed capacity.
