COVID-19: mobilising CT as a frontline management tool

As the COVID-19 pandemic has spread across the globe, questions have arisen about the approach healthcare systems should adopt in order to optimally manage patient influx. With a focus on the impact of COVID-19 on the NHS, we describe the frontline experience of a severely affected hospital in close...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:British journal of radiology 2020-12, Vol.93 (1116), p.20200522-20200522
Main Authors: Syed, Imran, Khan, Sami, Khan, Tahir, Syed, Sabeeh, Khan, Taha, Ali, Azhar, Harries, Katherine, Capuano, Ermanno, Farrugia, Alexia, Pittman, Marcus, Simon, Godwin, Haider, Tayyab, Ali, Fawad, Gupta, Indrajit, Malik, Qaiser
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Betacoronavirus
Coronavirus Infections - diagnostic imaging
COVID-19
Humans
Lung - diagnostic imaging
Pandemics
Pneumonia, Viral - diagnostic imaging
SARS-CoV-2
Tomography, X-Ray Computed - methods
Triage - methods
United Kingdom
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Summary:As the COVID-19 pandemic has spread across the globe, questions have arisen about the approach healthcare systems should adopt in order to optimally manage patient influx. With a focus on the impact of COVID-19 on the NHS, we describe the frontline experience of a severely affected hospital in close proximity to London. We highlight a protocol-driven approach, incorporating the use of CT in the rapid triage, assessment and cohorting of patients, in an environment where there was a lack of readily available, onsite RT-PCR testing facilities. Furthermore, the effects of the protocol on the effective streamlining of patient flow within the hospital are discussed, as are the resultant improvements in clinical management decisions within the acute care service. This model may help other healthcare systems in managing this pandemic whilst assessing their own needs and resources.
ISSN:0007-1285
1748-880X
DOI:10.1259/bjr.20200522