Expect these standard processes for test results and patient follow-up

Intermountain Laboratory, COVID-19 Remote Patient Monitoring (CRPM), Population Health, the Department of Health, and other teams are working to notify patients and ordering providers and units of COVID-19 test results and to support patients who need additional care or care information. Following are processes you can expect:

COVID-19 test result notification process

• Central Lab contacts ordering provider or ordering ambulatory unit on positive results (Medical Group-ordering providers are also notified in iCentra Message Center)
• Central Lab contacts ordering provider/hospital unit on positive results on inpatients
• Department of Health notifies all patients who test positive and performs contact tracing
• COVID-19 Remote Patient Monitoring (CRPM) Team monitors all Intermountain COVID-19 lab test results daily (8am-8pm) and contacts patients with negative and positive test results

Patients tested in ambulatory setting or ED and released

• ALL patients tested for COVID-19 are informed about home isolation requirements and provided instruction sheet (CDC Home Isolation) in accordance with posted documents 
• Patients receive the Health Answers number (844-442-5224) to use if they have questions or concerns while awaiting test results 
• Patients are informed they will receive a call (from the CRPM Team) with test result when completed
• Patients are informed they will also receive a phone call from the Department of Health if their test is positive so the department can initiate contact tracing
• A primary care provider follow-up (video) visit is arranged at time of disposition in accordance with standard practices

Patients with pending or positive results being discharged from hospital

• The discharge team coordinates with the CRPM team (through the iCentra inbox: “COVID-19 Remote Patient Monitoring Team”) if the patient has a pending or positive result and needs home isolation and monitoring 
• If patient requires more aggressive monitoring after discharge (e.g. oxygen/pulse oximetry), Acute Care at Home program is an available option (see below)
  

Covid-19 remote patient monitoring (CRPM) Team functions 

• Provide safety net to ensure patients tested at an Intermountain facility are notified of test results
• Document test notification and counseling in iCentra for continuity of care and primary care provider awareness 
• Educate COVID-19-positive patients on home isolation monitoring requirements 
• Initiate patient monitoring using a variety of potential monitoring applications
• Identify and escalate level of care needs for COVID-19-positive patients when indicated
• Refer patient to primary care provider or appropriate provider for video visit follow-up as clinically needed
• CRPM will monitor all COVID-19-positive patients for approximately 14 days depending on symptom duration, clinical status, and household exposure risk assessment
• Points of contact for the CRPM Team are: Kerry Palakanis, Executive Director for Connect Care Operations, Andrew Davis, Project Coordinator for Connect Care Operations, and Todd Vento, MD, Medical Director, ID TeleHealth 

Acute Care at Home program

• A separate Intermountain program that’s being launched to serve as the equivalent to a step-down unit from critical care, but instead to the patient’s home 
  Also for COVID-19-positive patients who are discharged from the hospital and require closer monitoring
• Discharging hospitalists order/request this service at time of discharge and coordinate with the Acute Care at Home team
• Points of contact for the Acute Care at Home program: Josh Romney, MD, Population Health Medical Director, Castell, and Nick Bassett, VP Population Health Services