ER team uses new ways to speed up care .
The newly expanded Jefferson Hospital emergency department allows doctors and nurses to more quickly assess , diagnose , and treat our patients . These improvements proved essential when the COVID-19 pandemic struck .
“ COVID-19 forced us to think differently about how we deliver care , adjust procedures , and arrange our space ,” said Zac Allan , MS , BSN , RN , CEN , PHRN , manager of the Jefferson Emergency Department and Clinical Decision Unit .
“ It helps that EMS can tell us ahead of time that a COVID-19 patient is coming in , so we can be prepared ,” said Meredith Aumer , MSN , RN , CPEN , NE-BC , director of Emergency Services and EMS for Jefferson Hospital .
The hospital is restricting visitors to keep patients , families , and staff safe . The ER teams are taking extra steps to be sure patients and their families understand the issues and can make decisions .
New electronic whiteboards in each room update each patient ’ s status , so they can better understand where they are in the treatment process . This helps limit occasions when staff must put on PPE to enter the room .
Another new tool is a hands-free communication system , hung around the neck , that lets clinical staff talk to each other while keeping their hands sterile . “ It allows the staff to work as one , even when we are in isolation rooms ,” said Meredith . “ We want to give patients the best experience in these trying times .”
“ We ’ ve taken the waiting out of the waiting room .”
Though many people are now using telehealth to see the doctor , in-person hospital care continues to be essential . “ We want people to know that it is completely safe to come to the hospital ,” added Zac . “ It ’ s probably the safest place to be from an infection standpoint .”
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ; covid . cdc . gov / covid-data-tracker
ZAC ALLAN , MS , BSN , RN , CEN , PHRN
MANAGER , EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT AND CLINICAL DECISION UNIT