<img height="1" width="1" style="display:none;" alt="" src="https://dc.ads.linkedin.com/collect/?pid=293162&amp;fmt=gif">
ZOLL Pulse Blog: Find out about the latest insights for EMS, Fire, Hospital, and AR Optimization.
Request A Demo
Request a demo to see how ZOLL's solutions can help improve the clinical and operational performance of your business.

COVID-19 Patient Documentation to Improve Outcomes and Protect EMS Crews

Chad Hurka | Mar 13, 2020

With COVID-19 cases on the rise, first responders must address a new set of concerns relating to patient care and crew safety. The CDC has updated their recommendations for how to care for patients suspected or know to have COVID-19, including interim guidance for coping with supply chain disruptions that may affect availability of respirators, gowns, and other protective gear.

The presence of COVID-19 requires dispatchers to ask additional questions so that EMS crews take necessary precautions, including wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) if the patient meets person under investigation (PUI) criteria for COVID-19. Enhanced prehospital documentation will enable appropriate coordination with healthcare facilities, including transfer to designated examination or isolation areas.

iStock-1204696189

ZOLL has been part of conversations about reporting data at the state and national levels. One result of these conversation is that ZOLL patient documentation platforms have been updated with a set of custom data fields for COVID-19 that may be captured and reported to many states. Options for coding impressions, symptoms, and documenting PPE are included. There are a few important things to keep in mind:

  • These fields currently are in the design process at NEMSIS. When ZOLL has received the final design of these fields, we will update our customers on what to expect next.
  • Different states require different data points to be collected. Please refer to your state (or local) office of EMS for the data that they require.
  • You may find that your organization may need to alter your documentation to adjust. Changes that can be made to ZOLL reporting products vary.

This situation is changing rapidly. We will update our products and support documents accordingly. Visit our website for the latest information.

 

Learn More About COVID-19 Patient Documentation

 

Related Post

ZOLL Data Systems | Nov 28, 2023
Providers Can Even the Playing Field During Open Negotiations – Here’s How
Emergency medical service (EMS) providers are facing ongoing challenges when it comes to receiving the maximum reimbursement rate from...
Read More >
ZOLL Data Systems | Nov 13, 2023
Data Interoperability Drives Better Coordination of Care in Emergent Patient Transitions
Everything that happens in an ambulance has a huge impact on what happens to a patient in a hospital. Unfortunately, handoffs between...
Read More >
ZOLL Data Systems | Nov 8, 2023
Proactive EMS-Hospital Communication Better Prepares Providers for Faster, Safer Care
The data obtained by emergency medical technicians (EMTs) on-scene sometimes is not translated into optimal hospital care during handoffs....
Read More >