From JAMA Network Open | Comments Courtesy of Matt Zavadsky

Tip of the hat to Dr. Marshal Isaacs from the UT Southwestern/BioTel system in Dallas for this excellent find!

Might be interesting for other systems to conduct a similar analysis of the pre-hospital system, including dispatch and field encounters.

--------------------------

Clinical Characteristics of Patients With Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Receiving Emergency Medical Services in King County, Washington

JAMA Netw Open. 2020;3(7):e2014549. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.14549

July 8, 2020

Betty Y. Yang, MD1; Leslie M. Barnard, MPH2; Jamie M. Emert, MPH2; et al

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2767993

 

Question  What is the clinical presentation to emergency medical services among persons with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)?

 

Findings  This cohort study of 124 patients with COVID-19 revealed that most patients with COVID-19 presenting to emergency medical services were older and had multiple chronic health conditions. Initial concern, symptoms, and examination findings were heterogeneous and not consistently characterized as febrile respiratory illness.

 

Meaning  The findings of this study suggest that the conventional description of febrile respiratory illness may not adequately identify COVID-19 in the prehospital emergency setting.

 

Abstract

Importance  The ability to identify patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the prehospital emergency setting could inform strategies for infection control and use of personal protective equipment. However, little is known about the presentation of patients with COVID-19 requiring emergency care, particularly those who used 911 emergency medical services (EMS).

 

Objective  To describe patient characteristics and prehospital presentation of patients with COVID-19 cared for by EMS.

Continue Reading►