Screening and Documentation Procedures in a Post-COVID-19 World
As states begin to reengage some sectors of the economy, businesses are being asked to develop COVID-19 preparedness and response plans. For clinics developing their plan it is important to consider adding screening procedures to minimize the spread of the virus and document those procedures.
A vital component of screening patients is simply asking if they have recently experienced any of the common symptoms such as:
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Fever
- Chills
- Muscle pain / body aches
- Sore throat
- New loss of taste or smell
Your screening procedure should also take into consideration possible exposure to the virus. Here are some questions to consider asking patients:
- Have you been in close contact with someone with a diagnosis of COVID-19 in the past 14 days?
- Have you traveled or been in close contact with someone that has travelled outside the state or country within the last 14 days?
As an extra layer of precaution, many providers are also choosing to measure patient temperatures to ensure fever is not present.
Documenting the screening procedures you are performing is necessary to demonstrate the efforts you have taken to protect your patients. This documentation can easily be accomplished via a chart note macro in Chirotouch. For your convenience we have created the text for a sample macro below, feel free to use this or create your own. The text in blue represents the Advanced Commands you would need to insert at specific locations to provide the necessary personalized information:
Prior to treatment the patient was screened for COVID-19 symptoms and {Advanced Command = he/she} denies any recent history of coughing, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, fever, chills, body aches, sore throat, or sudden loss of taste or smell. {Advanced Command = He/She} has not traveled out of the state or country in the last 14 days, nor has {Advanced Command= he/she} been in close contact with someone who has. {Advanced Command= He/She} also denies any close contact with anyone in the last 14 days with a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis. Infrared skin temperature was measured at {Advanced Command = Number} degrees Fahrenheit.
To review how to create a macro button with Advanced Commands watch this video: https://vimeo.com/chirotouch/review/90234202/1dc56f1d1c
While screening patients and documenting your screening procedures are important parts of your preparedness and response plan, there is much more that needs to go into a comprehensive plan. Look to your state guidelines and the CDC for further information on creating a comprehensive plan.
ChiroTouch provides this information with the understanding that authors or speakers are not experts in finance, regulatory policy or law. ChiroTouch shares this information to the best of our knowledge and experience. The information is subject to change as the COVID-19 crisis evolves.