Slide 20 of 63
Notes:
*The IC committee in consultation with facility engineering staff should determine appropriate cohorting sites (e.g., CWO Davis and the power team to support the ICU-ICW’s of the CSH, a DEPMEDs Hospital.)
*These sites should be based on patterns of airflow and ventilation, availability of adequate plumbing and waste disposal, and capacity to safely hold potentially large numbers or patients. One hospital (St. Luke’s in Houston, TX) is trying to create negative pressure areas using large HEPA-filtered fans and positive pressure area barriers (which they already do for renovation and construction issues.)
*Can’t forget air in the hallways and elevator shaft flow; must be at positive pressure. Also, the triage and cohort site should have controlled entry to minimize the possibility for transmission to other patients at the facility and to staff members not directly involved in managing the outbreak.