The RSNA's COVID-19 task force has published two new documents intended to help radiology departments prepare for surges in care during the pandemic and after.
The Surge Preparedness document outlines steps hospitals can take to prepare for a flood of COVID-19 patients, such as patient screening, triage, and radiologist redeployment as needed, while the Post-COVID Surge Radiology Preparedness document offers recommendations for managing radiology departments once surge is over.
"Communities and hospitals across the country are either already experiencing or soon expecting large surges of patients with COVID-19, which will stretch thin or exhaust hospital resources, including hospital beds, personal protective equipment (PPE), and staff and faculty resources," the RSNA said in a statement. "In coordination with their hospitals, radiology departments need to prepare for the expected patient surge."
