If you have been infected with the coronavirus, even if the Symptoms are not severe, you should visit your health care provider to offer adequate treatments. The first steps taken to manage the virus are self-assessment methods and remote (telehealth) evaluation. In recent times,
Public health organizations have become more cautious and have given instructions to health care providers on how to triage people with COVID-19. They have also provided access to in-person visits with personal protective equipments
PATIENT SELF ASSESSMENT METHODS
Patient enlightenment materials, such as self- assessment tools can help you know if you need evaluation. Effective distribution of these tools can increase awareness among patients and the number of people using them. Several online assessment tools launched by medical organizations and public health institutions can help answer any question you have and recommend when to visit the hospital. These tools provide enough guidance to help you recover from any mild symptom without directly visiting a health care provider.
Doctors should know that these assessment materials do not educate qualified patients about the possibilities of COVID-19 specific therapy.
INITIAL TRIAGE CALL
After self-assessment, initial triage call is done to know if:
- You are eligible to take care of yourself at home
- You need frequent remote (telehealth) evaluation
- You can be treated with a COVID-19 specific therapy
- You are eligible for an outpatient clinic visit or urgent emergency department (ED)
The presence of symptoms such as sleep apnea, mental confusion and hypovolemia indicate the need for an immediate in-person evaluation. The venue for the evaluation depends on the chronicity of symptoms.
SUSPICION OF COVID-19 AND BENEFITS OF TESTING
During a Pandemic, if you live in areas that have high transmission rate and have matching symptoms, you are said to have Coronavirus whether you have been tested or not.
The symptoms first observed when you have COVID-19 are:
- Mild upper respiratory tract infection, such as pharyngitis and rhinorrhea
- Lower respiratory tract infection, such as cough and fever.
- Influenza like symptoms such as fever, cold, headache and
- Gastroenteritis like nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
- Loss of smell
- Loss of taste
- Dyspnea. It happens 4-5 days after manifestation of symptoms. It may also occur after 10 days.
Health care providers should make a list of steps to take to fight the virus, even in areas with low transmission rate. Some of these steps are:
- Stay equipped with adequate knowledge of signs and symptoms of date, viral testing, case definitions, and vaccination for Coronavirus
- Pay attention to patients that meet the persons under investigation (PUI) definition.
- Learn how to report a potential case COVID-19 to facility infection regulation officials and public health officials
- Stay at home, and report to occupational health services, if you are sick.
- Follow guidelines provided by your state or local public health agency
CONCLUSION
Evaluation plays a vital role in slowing the virus. Therefore, healthcare providers should always be ready to evaluate patients for Coronavirus.
