CHI-Franciscan saw more than 1,300 people in one day at COVID-19 triage centers
This story has been updated.
CHI Franciscan Health says so far it’s been able to meet the current demand of patients as the numbers of those infected with COVID-19 increase.
After the launch of 11 triage screening sites, the health care system processed more than 1,300 people in one day.
Matt Metsker, a division director with Franciscan’s clinical command center said that on Tuesday outpatient triage units used to screen patients for testing saw 1,325 patients.
The health system’s virtual care staff also has been processing several hundred patients a day.
On Tuesday, the network started screening patients at triage centers “to test patients who meet the criteria for COVID-19. We are following current testing guidance from the CDC and the state DOH for patients who meet the established criteria. This includes signs and symptoms, such as fever or lower respiratory illness (e.g. cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing) as well as travel to higher risk countries,” according to an informational sheet it released March 10.
It added that “while every patient can be screened, only those who are at high risk and moderately symptomatic, or were exposed to a confirmed COVID-19 patient, will be offered COVID-19 testing — in line with official public health guidance. Test samples are sent to either the University of Washington or an approved commercial laboratory.”
CHI Franciscan still recommends that you seek virtual care first, which it offers at no cost for those showing symptoms of COVID-19.
So, what happens if you go to one of its triage centers? According to CHI Franciscan:
▪ Providers ask symptom-based questions (cough, sore throat, shortness of breath) as well as exposure questions (close contact to someone with a confirmed case, traveled somewhere of concern).
▪ If criteria are met, staff will perform a test. The test involves a nasal swab to gather a sample.
▪ Test samples are sent to either the University of Washington, the DOH or an approved commercial laboratory.
▪ The patient will be contacted later about results. Patients can self-quarantine if their symptoms are not severe.
Jessica Schlicher is medical director of the system’s Virtual Hospital/Clinical Operations Center and Prompt Care at CHI Franciscan Health. Schlicher told The News Tribune the system has capacity both for COVID-19 patients and its usual patients.
“Our disaster preparedness team met several weeks ago before any cases started turning up,” she told The News Tribune.
Its hospitals at that point made plans to double the amount of negative air flow rooms, an important part of containing cases, according to Schlicher and
Franciscan officials told The News Tribune their operations’ supply chain so far has benefited from its joining CommonSpirit Health’s Organized Health Care Arrangement (OHCA) in 2019 — its system of health care providers. City MD/Franciscan Urgent Care services also are part of the OHCA.
As a result, they have not yet had to resort to rationing of medical supplies.
“We have large supply chain with CommonSpirit Health. We have not had an issue with that,” Schlicher said.
“Not all states been hit as heavily,” Metsker said, “so that’s given us supply-chain advantages.”
UPDATE: On March 14, Cary Evans, vice president for communications and government affairs, CHI Franciscan, told The News Tribune: “We are following CDC and health department guidelines for masking, which is one per healthcare worker/per patient/per shift with a maximum use of five times.”
Metsker also said CHI network’s “Mission Control” center gives real-time updates system-wide every 30 seconds on bed availability, including negative airflow rooms, used to keep the air flow from infected patients spreading to other areas, “to best preserve, utilize and distribute clinical resources across eight acute care hospitals.”
“We do have multiple (COVID-19 ) cases throughout our network; 6 confirmed so far, and we are tracking all of them,” Schlicher said.
In a statement Tuesday, the health care network noted in its fact sheet: “We have treated multiple confirmed and suspected cases of COVID-19 throughout our system, and some of these patients have been discharged with minor symptoms.”
Visitors to its hospitals also are now being screened, and the health care system has taken measures similar to those announced by Tacoma-based MultiCare Health System this week.
Statewide, more than 3,400 COVID-19 tests have been conducted so far, according to Wednesday figures from the Washington state Department of Health. Commercial labs are now offering the test, in addition to the University of Washington and State Public Health labs, the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department said on Wednesday.
While she would not share how many tests it has given for COVID-19, Schlicher said the system had enough tests at this point for patients with severe illness or known contact risk.
“If a doctor orders a test, we have them,” she said.
Schlicher noted that the rest of the CommonSpirit’s network, with hospitals nationwide, was looking to what was working at CHI’s Puget Sound area hospitals for best practices.
“We are on the leading edge of developing protocol on how to handle different situations,” she said.
CHI FRANCISCAN COVID-19 TRIAGE CENTERS
The health system asks that you do not go to the ER or urgent care unless symptoms are severe, such as high fever, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing. If you have milder symptoms like cough, low-grade fever, or other respiratory problems, contact your regular provider, schedule a virtual visit or visit one of its COVID-19 triage centers to be screened:
▪ Franciscan Prompt Care – Bonney Lake
▪ Franciscan Prompt Care – Canyon Road
▪ Franciscan Prompt Care at St. Joseph
▪ Franciscan Prompt Care – Gig Harbor
▪ Franciscan Prompt Care – Burien
▪ Franciscan Medical Clinic – Federal Way
▪ Franciscan Medical Clinic – Enumclaw
▪ Franciscan Medical Clinic – Bainbridge Island
▪ Harrison Belfair Urgent Care
▪ Harrison Port Orchard Urgent Care
▪ The Doctors Clinic Ridgetop East - Silverdale
This story was originally published March 12, 2020 at 11:00 AM.
