We are all learning as we go, but we are seeing more than 200 COVID-19 patients every day in our emergency department in Queens, NY, and this is what we are doing to evaluate and treat patients, keep everyone safe, and boost staff morale.

Protecting Staff and Patients: PPE
All staff should wear a surgical mask at all times on hospital and clinic premises. This includes physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists, nursing assistants, transporters, secretaries, registration, housekeeping, and security.

All emergency department and triage and screening staff must wear an N95 and surgical mask for every initial nurse triage and every initial physician encounter.
Change the surgical mask only when soiled.

A surgical mask with or without an eye shield is preferred with COVID-19-likely patients.

N95 masks can be removed after a history is taken if the likelihood of COVID-19 infection is low.

N95 masks can be worn for up to 48 hours of patient contact time, or until soiled. A mask should last at least four 12-hour shifts.

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