The analysis of the status of emergency department-based screening clinic according to the spread of coronavirus disease 2019: a retrospective single-center study

Han, Jun Ho; Lee, Sung Min; Lee, Dong Hun; Heo, Tag

J Korean Soc Emerg Med > Volume 33(1); 2022 > Article

Original Article

Journal of The Korean Society of Emergency Medicine 2022;33(1): 19-27.

코로나바이러스감염증-19 확산에 따른 응급실 기반 선별진료소 현황 분석: 단일 기관 후향적 연구

한준호

, 이성민

, 이동훈

, 허탁

전남대학교병원 응급의학과

The analysis of the status of emergency department-based screening clinic according to the spread of coronavirus disease 2019: a retrospective single-center study

Department of Emergency Medicine, Chonnam National University Hospital, Gwangju, Korea

Correspondence

Sung Min Lee ,Tel: 062-220-6809, Fax: 062-228-7417, Email: magicwizard2@hanmail.net,

Received: January 12, 2021; Revised: April 17, 2021 Accepted: August 31, 2021. Published online: February 28, 2022.

ABSTRACT

Objective:
Emergency department-based screening clinic (ED-BSC) is a new concept. It is a multifunctional clinic at the entrance of the emergency department (ED) that serves as a screening center for suspected coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients and triaging patients and provides basic emergency treatment. We aimed to analyze the current status of the COVID-19 ED-BSC and determine the factors when assigning suspected COVID-19 patients to the negative pressure isolation rooms (NPIRs) at the ED.
Method:
Data of patients who visited the ED-BSC between February 7, 2020, and April 30, 2020, were obtained retrospectively. The data of the patients who underwent the COVID-19 screening test per the standards of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency were analyzed.
Results:
A total of 1,378 patients who visited the ED-BSC were included in the study. Of these, 1,226 patients were allowed to go home after the COVID-19 screening test, and 152 patients were assigned to the NPIRs. In univariate analysis, factors influencing the allocation of NPIRs were old age, history of overseas travel within the last 14 days, fever and peripheral oxygen saturation. The multivariate regression analysis confirmed that older adults, history of overseas travel within the last 14 days and fever influenced the allocation of patients to NPIRs.
Conclusion:
This study elucidates the current status of suspected COVID-19 patient visits to an ED-BSC. This study may serve as a basis for the establishment and revision of clinical guidelines for ED-BSC.

Key words: COVID-19; Emergency department; Screening test; Isolation