SARS-CoV-2 outpatient pre-operative testing will cease starting May 3, 2021.
The rate of positive test results in this setting over the last six weeks has been 0.5% (5 positives per 1000 tests). Because of this data, pre-procedural and surgical testing will no longer be required for any patients who are free of symptoms suggestive of COVID-19 infection. This includes procedures performed in the operating rooms as well as all other procedural areas. This also includes elective C-sections and inductions.
SARS-CoV-2 admission testing will cease starting midnight on May 2, 2021.
The rate of positive test results in patients that do not present with COVID-19 symptoms or are suspected of COVID-19 including women in active labor is 1% over the previous six weeks.
No repeat testing is required for patients with a positive test within the last 90 days. Decisions regarding placement on a designated unit continue to be based on CDC guidelines (including patients placed in a semiprivate room).
No testing is required for women in active labor.
No testing is required for patients admitted for non-respiratory symptoms/diagnoses.
No testing is required for fully vaccinated patients presenting with COPD, asthma, or focal pneumonia.
COVID-19 testing should be done for patients with a high clinical suspicion of active COVID-19 (regardless of vaccination status).
COVID-19 testing must be done for patients placed in the behavioral health unit.
COVID-19 testing will be performed on patients being placed in semiprivate rooms as authorized by the NOCC.
Mothers visiting newborn patients in the NICU will not be required to have a COVID-19 test prior to entering the NICU.
PCR testing may be ordered by the clinician for any patient about whom the clinician has a high index of suspicion of COVID-19, with the exception of those patients who fall into the category of documented COVID-19 infection within a 90-day time frame. Those patients who are past the 90-day time frame from their documented positive test or COVID-19 infection and are suspected of COVID-19 infection may be tested.