Coronavirus (COVID-19) — a pneumonia of unknown cause — is an emerging and quickly evolving public health concern in the United States and abroad. Both the World Health Organization and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services have declared the outbreak a public health emergency. The rapid spread of coronavirus and the potential for asymptomatic transmission of the disease have elevated fears about a worldwide pandemic.

As information about coronavirus emerges, MedPro encourages all healthcare providers to remain vigilant regarding new developments and established best practices for infection prevention and control, particularly in relation to patient assessment and triage, infectious disease precautions, hand hygiene, the use of personal protective equipment, and environmental cleaning and disinfection.

There is much to learn about the newly emerged COVID-19, including how and how easily it spreads. Based on what is currently known about COVID-19 and what is known about other coronaviruses, spread is thought to occur mostly from person-to-person via respiratory droplets among close contacts.

A number of resources from authoritative organizations provide detailed information for healthcare organizations and professionals:

ACADEMY OF GENERAL DENTISTRY

ADMINISTRATION FOR COMMUNITY LIVING

AMBULATORY SURGERY CENTER ASSOCIATION

AMERICAN ACADEMY OF FAMILY PHYSICIANS

AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY

AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS

AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF ENDODONTISTS

AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF NURSE ANESTHETISTS

AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF NURSE PRACTITIONERS

AMERICAN CHIROPRACTIC ASSOCIATION

AMERICAN COLLEGE OF CARDIOLOGY

AMERICAN COLLEGE OF EMERGENCY PHYSICIANS

AMERICAN COLLEGE OF OBSTETRICIANS AND GYNECOLOGISTS

AMERICAN COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS

AMERICAN COLLEGE OF SURGEONS

AMERICAN DENTAL ASSOCIATION

AMERICAN DENTAL HYGIENISTS ASSOCIATION

AMERICAN HEALTH CARE ASSOCIATION

AMERICAN HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION

AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION

AMERICAN NURSES ASSOCIATION

AMERICAN OSTEOPATHIC ASSOCIATION

AMERICAN PODIATRIC MEDICAL ASSOCIATION

AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR HEALTH CARE RISK MANAGEMENT

AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR REPRODUCTIVE MEDICINE

AMERICAN SOCIETY OF ANESTHESIOLOGISTS

AMERICAN TELEMEDICINE ASSOCIATION

ANESTHESIA PATIENT SAFETY FOUNDATION

ASSOCIATION FOR PROFESSIONALS IN INFECTION CONTROL AND EPIDEMIOLOGY

ASSOCIATION OF PERIOPERATIVE REGISTERED NURSES

BRITISH MEDICAL JOURNAL

CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION

CENTERS FOR MEDICARE & MEDICAID SERVICES

CORONAVIRUS.GOV

DR. BICUSPID

DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION

ECRI INSTITUTE

FEDERATION OF STATE MEDICAL BOARDS

HCPRO

INFECTIOUS DISEASE SOCIETY OF AMERICA

JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY & MEDICINE

JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION

LEADING AGE

MEDICAID.GOV

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR HEALTHCARE QUALITY

NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH

OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION

ORGANIZATION FOR SAFETY, ASEPSIS AND PREVENTION

POLICY & MEDICINE

SMART TRAINING

SOCIETY FOR MATERNAL • FETAL MEDICINE

SOCIETY OF CRITICAL CARE MEDICINE

THE LANCET

THE SCHWARTZ CENTER FOR COMPASSIONATE HEALTHCARE

UNIFORMED SERVICES UNIVERSITY CENTER FOR THE STUDY OF TRAUMATIC STRESS

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

U.S. FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION

WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION

If you have specific clinical or risk management questions, please contact your MedPro Patient Safety & Risk Consultant at 1-800-463-3776.