Management of the diagnostic and treatment process in the admission department of a multiprofile hospital during COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Introduction. High contagiousness of COVID-19 and its unpredictability have radically changed the work pattern in the emergency department of a multidisciplinary hospital.
 The purpose of our study is analysis of approaches to managing the diagnostic and treatment process for emergency patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.
 Material and methods. We analyzed data of two thousand seven hundred sixty seven patients with suspected coronavirus infection who sought emergency care at the Municipal Clinical Hospital named after. S.P. Botkin and those who underwent triage with further routing in the emergency department.
 Results. 112 569 patients were admitted from 01.04.2020 to 01.04.2022 for emergency assistance. 2,767 patients (2.46%) were suspected to have coronavirus infection. According to the results of PCR coronavirus infection was confirmed in 2064 people (1.83% of the total number and 74.59% of those with suspected infection). All patients with suspected COVID-19 were sent to the isolation room (2726 patients, the number differs from the total number of patients suspected with COVID-19). The patients were mostly suffered from emergency neurosurgical (3.65%), pulmonological (2.43%) and therapeutic (2.32%) diseases.
 Limitations. The data of 112569 patients with various pathologies who applied for emergency medical care at the admission department were analyzed as part of the study dedicated to introduction of a new model of work of the admission department of a multidisciplinary hospital. 
 Conclusions. COVID-19 is not a contraindication for emergency care. Separation of patient flows, and correct diagnostics help to prevent the spread of COVID-19, speed up diagnosis and route the patient correctly.