Recorded presentation

Abby J. Greenberg, MD, Margaret M. Sherman, RN, BSN, CIC, Joanne A. Maniscalco, RN, BSN, Charles DiMaggio, RPA, PhD, and Daniel Kuhles, MD, MPH. Nassau County Department of Health, 240 Old Country Road, Mineola, NY 11501, 516-571-1678, dkuhles@health.co.nassau.ny.us

CDC and New York State Public Health Preparedness and Response Guidance Documents for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), issued in November and December 2003, include measures (1) to reduce the risk of expose to SARS by separating and restricting the movement of persons suspected to have SARS and (2) to reduce the risk of transmission of SARS-CoV by restricting the movement of contacts who may have been exposed to infectious SARS patients but are not yet ill. These interventions include voluntary isolation, quarantine and twice daily monitoring (for fever and respiratory symptoms) of patients who either do not require hospitalization or who are discharged from the hospital as well as contacts to these patients. To maximize limited personnel resources, the Nassau County Department of Health developed a program for videophone monitoring of SARS patients and contacts in voluntary isolation and quarantine. The program was initiated in January 2004 following receipt of a report from an emergency department of a patient with upper respiratory tract symptoms who had been in Quangdong Province, China within the previous 10 days. The patient did not require hospitalization and agreed to voluntary home isolation and quarantine. Health Department staff visited the patient at home, provided education about SARS and videophone monitoring and obtained appropriate consents. The patient was then monitored at least twice daily for fever and symptoms until resolution, in accordance with CDC guidelines. Videophone usage is an effective and efficient method to closely observe and monitor patients on voluntary home isolation and quarantine.

Learning Objectives:

• The participant will be able to develop and implement an effective and efficient program with limited personnel resources to monitor SARS patients and their contacts who are in voluntary home isolation and quarantine.

Keywords: Telehealth, Emerging Diseases

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Nassau County Department of Health
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

Recorded presentation