Practical Tips for Ambulatory Care in COVID-19: Lessons Learned in a New York Health System

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Infectious Diseases
• Primary Care Medicine

Background:

• Limited focus on ambulatory COVID-19 management during the pandemic.
• Ambulatory care providers face challenges, especially in high-prevalence areas.
• Need for practical guidance for non-hospitalized COVID-19 patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To share a pragmatic approach for ambulatory COVID-19 management.
• To provide guidance for primary care providers managing COVID-19.
• To assist ambulatory providers in high-prevalence regions.

Main Methods:

• Description of Northwell Health's ambulatory COVID-19 management strategy.
• Inclusion of clinical assessment algorithms.
• Guidance on patient tracking and inter-provider collaboration.

Main Results:

• A structured approach to ambulatory COVID-19 care was developed.
• Key components include assessment tools and patient monitoring.
• Emphasis on multidisciplinary partnerships for comprehensive care.

Conclusions:

• The shared experience offers valuable insights for ambulatory providers.
• This approach can improve COVID-19 management in outpatient settings.
• Early pandemic preparedness and response in ambulatory care are crucial.