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Hershey reinforces guidelines for admitting asymptomatic, hematology-oncology patients from Emergency Department

All Hershey Medical Center patients are now tested for COVID-19 before being admitted. Hershey employees have raised questions about the process for admitting asymptomatic and hematology-oncology patients from the Emergency Department following the administration of a COVID test.

Clinical leaders are reinforcing the Guidance for Antigen (Ag) Testing in PSHMC Emergency Department to clarify any confusion about admissions for asymptomatic patients:

  • An asymptomatic patient, who lives in a congregate setting or has had close COVID-19 contacts within 14 days needs a test result before transfer from the Emergency Department and must be placed in a private room.
  • An asymptomatic patient who has no concerning COVID-19 contacts, but will be admitted to a shared space, needs a test result before transfer from the Emergency Department to the shared space. Such a patient may be admitted to a private room before the test result returns.
  • All asymptomatic patients transferred from the Emergency Department to a private room are placed under contact/droplet precautions while awaiting test results.

Hematology-oncology patients who are admitted from the Emergency Department will be placed in a private room while awaiting test results, regardless of the location within the medical center. Admission to a private room is critical given their immuno-compromised state. The patient should be placed under contact/droplet precautions while awaiting COVID test results.

Managers should review these guidelines at the Daily Operational Management Safety huddles.

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