Hospitals Struggle with Accurate COVID-19 Data

Some hospitals have not been able to track the number of patients who might have contracted COVID-19 during a stay


Controlling the spread of COVID-19 is difficult enough in hospitals, given the many variables at work, including screening procedures, sanitizing practices, air filtration measures and the outside activities of doctors, nurses and staff. In some cases, however, hospitals also are having difficulty gathering accurate data on the spread of the illness among patients.

For example, how many patients enter a Connecticut hospital with a broken leg or some other type of emergency and then contracting COVID-19 while hospitalized? It’s impossible to say because officials with the state’s Department of Public Health (DPH) have not been able to track the number of patients who might have contracted COVID-19 during a hospital stay, according to CT News Junkie. But when people do test positive for the novel coronavirus after being admitted for other reasons, the state is counting those patients as COVID-19 hospitalizations, says a DPH spokesman.

It’s easier to trace COVID-19 infections in nursing homes since most residents have been at the facility for longer than two weeks, officials said. But in a hospital setting where most patients only stay a short time, it’s difficult to tell where a person contracted the disease, according to CTNewsJunkie.

Click here to read the article.



December 10, 2020


Topic Area: Infection Control


Recent Posts

What Managers Miss in Small and Mid-Sized Cooling Units

The assumption is that small cooling units are fine. That assumption is costing facilities more than most owners and managers realize.


Preparing Healthcare Facilities for Cockroach Risks

Here’s what healthcare facilities managers should inspect and address after severe weather to prevent pest problems.


The Medical College of Wisconsin Breaks Ground on Student Housing Complex

The four-story apartment complex will include 266 units of various sizes.


A Shift in Healthcare Facilities Management

Healthcare facilities leaders who embrace a mindset change will be better prepared for the future.


Trauma-Informed Design Transforms Boston Homeless Shelter

Case study: A comprehensive renovation of St. Francis House makes use of trauma-informed design, infrastructure upgrades and operational improvements.


 
 


FREE Newsletter Signup Form

News & Updates | Webcast Alerts
Building Technologies | & More!

 
 
 


All fields are required. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

 
 
 
 

Healthcare Facilities Today membership includes free email newsletters from our facility-industry brands.

Facebook   Twitter   LinkedIn   Posts

Copyright © 2023 TradePress. All rights reserved.