Health care facilities around the world are preparing for an influx of patients with COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus.
On Long Island, community health centers say they’re ready to treat the symptoms of coronavirus patients, but they want faster test results.
That means employee training at the Long Island Federally Qualified Health Centers is focused on how to screen patients, and practice drills for when patients arrive.
Dr. Tarika James, the organization’s chief medical officer, says all patients are interviewed over the phone about their symptoms, travel history and whether they’ve been in contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. And there’s step-by-step instructions for any sick patients who come to a center.
“We have a door sign at the door that says ‘Stop, if you're having these symptoms, or you have this history of contact, please call within to the health center’ so that someone can meet them at the door with a mask. We then have a nurse alerted so that she can meet them at the door and bring them directly to an isolation room there.”
Dr. James says the health centers are prepared. They’re stocked up on masks, gloves, and personal protective gear for staff. But she would like faster tests for the disease.
“With more testing, we still have a delay in result. There's no rapid testing available for us to know instantly when a patient’s been exposed. And that's a challenge.”
Dr. James says it takes three or four days to get test results back. Patients self-quarantine at home while they wait.
Another challenge for the health centers will be if there’s a large surge in patients.
“We only have one isolation room in each facility. So we may have to cohort individuals that have similar symptoms as you would when you’re triaging in a major crisis situation.”
But the advice to the public is the same – wash your hands, avoid large crowds, and call your doctor if you feel sick.
Dr. Anthony Santella, a public health scientist at Hofstra University, says new health care protocols and quarantines might seem scary, but they’re normal when communities are faced with a virus outbreak.
“It's something that's been used to combat communicable diseases for centuries, so we know it works. We’ve just got to implement it in an efficient way. And that's what we're seeing kind of pan out right now. So while we're not used to it, the tools that are being implemented are scientifically proven to work.”
Statewide bans on public gatherings of 500 people or more are also implemented to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
Government emergency procedures are in place to help the state and county governments be able to purchase protective gear, hire more staff and test more patients.
New Yorkers can call the state novel coronavirus hotline for more information: 888-364-3065. Connecticut residents can call 211 or text CTCOVID to 898211.
