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Report from the front
Remote patient monitoring for ED discharges in the COVID-19 pandemic
  1. Ahmad A Aalam1,2,
  2. Colton Hood2,
  3. Crystal Donelan2,
  4. Adam Rutenberg2,
  5. Erin M Kane2,
  6. Neal Sikka2
  1. 1 Emergency Medicine, King Abdulaziz University Faculty of Medicine, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
  2. 2 Emergency Medicine, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, USA
  1. Correspondence to Dr Ahmad A Aalam, Emergency Medicine, King Abdulaziz University Faculty of Medicine, Jeddah 21441, Saudi Arabia; dr.aalam{at}hotmail.com

Abstract

COVID-19 has had a significant effect on healthcare resources worldwide, with our knowledge of the natural progression of the disease evolving for the individual patient. To allow for early detection of worsening clinical status, protect hospital capacity and provide extended access for vulnerable patients, our emergency department developed a remote patient monitoring programme for discharged patients with COVID-19. The programme uses a daily emailed secure link to a survey in which patients submit biometric and symptoms data for monitoring. Patients’ meeting criteria are escalated to a physician for a phone or video visit. Here, we describe the development, implementation and preliminary analysis of utilisation of the programme.

  • emergency care systems
  • emergency departments
  • emergency department management
  • effectiveness
  • infectious diseases
  • viral

This article is made freely available for use in accordance with BMJ’s website terms and conditions for the duration of the covid-19 pandemic or until otherwise determined by BMJ. You may use, download and print the article for any lawful, non-commercial purpose (including text and data mining) provided that all copyright notices and trade marks are retained.

https://bmj.com/coronavirus/usage

https://doi.org/10.1136/emermed-2020-210022

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    Footnotes

    • Handling editor Mary Dawood

    • Twitter @draalam

    • Contributors All authors have contributed in writing the manuscript and building the remote patient monitoring program.

    • Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.

    • Competing interests None declared.

    • Patient and public involvement Patients and/or the public were not involved in the design, or conduct, or reporting, or dissemination plans of this research.

    • Patient consent for publication Not required.

    • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.