Covid 19 point of care testing; Nose and Throat Swabs

COVID-19
Effective Date: Tue, 03/17/2020
Revised: Thu, 10/29/2020
Policy:
Current and ongoing policies and procedures have been enhanced to address public health and public safety (i.e. masking and social distancing), handwashing, cleaning, disinfecting and decontamination, screening of staff, students and visitors, laboratory testing, expanded online services including Tele-Health, online visits and maintenance of clinical records (see policies on Tele-Health and COVID-19 Testing), and the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and other resource management.

In early 2020, the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2 pandemic quickly swept the globe and significantly impacted all UC locations. UCSC quickly modified all areas of operations and implemented a comprehensive strategy to help protect students, faculty, and staff and slow the spread of COVID-19. Mitigation strategies were implemented under the direction of regulatory agencies including the CDC, Local and State Public Health Departments, OSHA, and the University of California Office of the President. Examples of strategies to reduce spread of COVID-19 included: decreasing campus population density, instituting distance learning and work, requiring facial coverings in public, promoting social distancing, mandatory screening and testing for students and staff. Many of the special actions taken are included and summarized in the links and attachments in this Policy. Appropriate links to COVID-19 resources are included in this Policy as a single locus for where to find appropriate, integral information. As new data, best practices, and local conditions evolve, UCSC will change or modify strategies as indicated.

UCSC Student Health Services (SHS) is one entity in overall campus services and is designated as an essential service. As an essential service, UCSC SHS has remained open to provide access to care for students and as a resource for staff/faculty during the pandemic. Under the direction of the UCSC SHS Governing Body, the UCSC SHS Medical and Executive Directors, along with their designees meet regularly with UC campus, Santa Cruz County, and UCOP COVID-19 Planning and Response committees and task forces to develop and lead the organizational responses to COVID-19. Balancing delivery of healthcare and the safety of students and staff, required comprehensive changes to processes, care delivery, and the practical realities of managing operations.

The multi-pronged, comprehensive strategies included:

Mandatory symptom and risk screening and masking for anyone entering the SHS buildings
Mandatory masking at all times for all SHS staff while in shared spaces
6 ft. Distancing markers for all SHS waiting areas, standing and seated
Separation of “sick” and “well” waiting and exam areas
Initiation of telehealth services and expansion of other online services including online visits and maintenance of clinical records (see policies on Tele-Health)
On-going, frequent inventory count and management of PPE supplies and other resources
Frequent staff meetings and trainings on changing protocols, including PPE use, infection control and management of isolation rooms, treatment and testing options
Development of COVID-19 resources for SHS staff to aid in processing, testing, and treating possible COVID cases
Self-collected mass testing for students/staff/faculty with separate testing areas designated for asymptomatic screening testing and symptomatic diagnostic testing (see policy on COVID-19 Testing)
Designation and training of SHS staff for COVID-19 Case Investigation and Contact Tracing
Implementation of EMR modules and creation of chart note templates to help facilitate efficiencies in the management of quarantine and isolation cases, Case Investigation, and Contact Tracing
Development of an SHS “COVID-19 Team” comprised of MDs, RNs, and Case Managers. This team meets regularly to review and manage quarantine and isolation cases. Additionally, per a Memorandum of Understanding with SC County, the team is responsible for Case Investigation and Contact Tracing of UCSC affiliate COVID-19 cases

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