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. 2020 Apr 19;1(2):85-91.
doi: 10.1002/emp2.12064. eCollection 2020 Apr.

COVID-19 in Seattle-Early lessons learned

Gregg A Miller  1 , Cameron R Buck  2 , Christopher S Kang  3 , Jennifer M Aviles  4 , Bradley N Younggren  5 , Scott Osborn  6 , Catharine R Keay  7
Affiliations

COVID-19 in Seattle-Early lessons learned

Gregg A Miller et al. J Am Coll Emerg Physicians Open. .

Abstract

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has rapidly evolved and now dominates the attention and full efforts of the emergency medicine community, both domestic and abroad. Seattle is the site of the initial diagnosed COVID-19 cases and fatalities in the United States. We provide an overview of the system-level response of 6 Seattle emergency departments and the Washington state chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) to the COVID-19 pandemic. Local efforts involved the spectrum of emergency response including on- and off-site triage strategies, an approach to personal protective equipment, testing and reporting protocols, early treatments, communication strategies, the impact on front-line providers, and ongoing work.

Keywords: COVID‐19; Seattle; coronavirus; disaster medicine; emergency preparedness; pandemic.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Geographic locations of cohort hospitals
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Tents for patients with respiratory symptoms. (A) Exterior view of tent in Virginia Mason Hospital and Medical Center parking garage. (B) Exterior view of tent at Providence Regional Medical Center Everett. (C) Interior view of tent at Providence Regional Medical Center Everett
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
Sample triage algorithm. CAPR, controlled air purifying respirators; OP, oropharyngeal; NP, nasopharyngeal; PAPR, powered air purifying respirators; SOB, shortness of breath
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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