Solutions

Solutions powered by
Learn More.
Frame 586 (1)

Quality Manager formerly known as abaqis®

Mitigate risk and elevate your quality of care. Improving both clinical and business outcomes starts with a smarter, more integrated approach to regulatory training, continuing education and quality management.

Learn More

NEW TO THE STORE

hStream Content Marketplace

Connecting you to the Best Content. Access to 75 Partners and 35,000+ Courses in our Industry-Leading Marketplace. Streamline content purchasing, updates, hosting and connectivity for your organizational needs.

NurseGrid Learn

Online store for Clinical Learners. Individual CE Credit and industry products for Clinical Learners are now available through NurseGrid Learn (Beta). Explore our robust collection of courses that provides an unparalleled level of flexibility and choice.

DEA MATE Opioid and Substance Use for Practitioners

Meet the DEA's new requirement under the Medication Access and Training Expansion (MATE) Act in an online and self-paced 8-hour DEA MATE Act course specifically designed for practitioners, including Physicians, PAs, NPs, Pharmacists, Dentists and others.

LATEST & POPULAR

BLOG

Join Us at Thrive24: The Ultimate HealthStream Credentialing User Group Conference!
BLOG

Gen Z Enters the Workforce: How Healthcare Can Adapt Training Programs for the Next Generation
BLOG

Telehealth: From Pandemic Tool to Preferred Option
On-Demand Webinar

State of the Industry: What’s Next for Healthcare Quality & Safety in 2024?
CUSTOMER STORY

Quantifiable results highlight switch to jane®
ARTICLE

10 Trends for 2024: Absorbing New Technology, Facing New Realities, and Solving Old Problems

< HealthStream Resources

01761262_tm_1149512250

What Healthcare Officials Need to Know About the Coronavirus COVID-19 (Part 1)

April 1, 2021
April 1, 2021

From December 31, 2019 through January 3, 2020, a total of 44 case-patients with pneumonia of unknown etiology were reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) by national authorities in China. The Chinese quickly isolated a new coronavirus on January 7, 2020, and by January 20, 2020, there were 282 confirmed infected cases. The new virus was first detected in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China, and continues to spread throughout the mainland there. Just a little over a month later, this novel coronavirus, named COVID-19, has now infected over 42,000 people in China, causing 1,107 deaths there, and has spread globally to 25 other countries. One person has now died in the Philippines. This coronavirus is a public health emergency of international concern.

2019 Novel Coronavirus Timeline

 

The first U.S. case was confirmed on January 30, 2020. As of February 10, 2020, there were 13 confirmed cases identified in the states of Washington, California, Arizona, Illinois, and Massachusetts. Additionally, 36 states now have identified additional Persons Under Investigation (PUIs) (WHO, 2020).

A Virus Previously Unknown in Humans

COVID-19 is a new coronavirus that has not been previously recognized in humans. Early cases were thought to have crossed over from an animal, such as a camel, cow, cat, or bat, because many of those that were first infected were exposed in a large seafood and live animal market in Wuhan. The animal source has not yet been identified. COVID-19 is a betacoronavirus like Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV), both of which have their origin in bats. We now know that human-to-human transmission is occurring.

Coronavirus Symptoms and Risks

COVID-19 causes respiratory illness with symptoms of fever, cough, and shortness of breath. Symptoms range from mild, as with the common cold, to deadly. Risk is higher in those individuals over 60 years of age and those with compromised immune systems. The most common laboratory findings among hospitalized patients with pneumonia on admission included leukopenia, leukocytosis, lymphopenia, and elevated levels of alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase. Most patients show bilateral involvement on chest CT. Typically there are multiple areas of consolidation and ground glass opacities.

Current Treatment Involves Managing Symptoms

Currently there is no effective vaccine or antiviral agent for this infection, and treatment is supportive to manage symptoms. Clinical management guidelines include information in the following links:


Please Note: Corticosteroids should be avoided unless there is an indication to manage conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or septic shock, because there is potential for prolonging viral replication, as has been observed in MERs-CoV patients.

This blog post is an excerpt from a HealthStream white paper, What Healthcare Professionals Need to Know About the Coronavirus, about the global healthcare threat posed by the coronavirus COVID-19. It includes references that will provide you with detailed information that you need should you suspect COVID-19 or must manage confirmed cases. HealthStream put together this basic high-level information as an initial primer for healthcare professionals who want to know more about the coronavirus threat. As with any emerging infection, make sure that you become familiar with the resources available on the CDC website. The CDC updates information there as they learn it, so checking in daily and setting up an email notification for updates is strongly recommended.

Learn more by reading similar blogs:

What Healthcare Professionals Need to Know About the Coronavirus COVID-19 (Part 2)

What Healthcare Professionals Need to Know About the Coronavirus COVID-19 (Part 3)

Preventing Viruses: Strategies of Containment, Protection, & Prevention 

Benefits & Challenges of Working Remotely in Times of Crisis

Handling N95s, Ventilated Face Masks, and Social Distancing


PLEASE NOTE: The information in this blog post was considered current at the time of its publishing, 02/17/20. However, the COVID-19 pandemic is an ever-evolving disaster due to new findings, data, and availability of resources. Please refer to the CDC website for the latest detailed information when you need it.