UCHealth: Universal Admissions Testing

Beginning 6/8/2020, UCHealth will now screen and test all patients on admission regardless of COVID-19 symptoms to identify asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic COVID-19 carriers. The benefit of this process is that patients will be placed into enhanced precautions prior to developing symptoms, and they will already have a known diagnosis if they decompensate, which will result in earlier access to therapeutic options.

Patients being admitted should be tested following the COVID-19 Inpatient Screening and Testing Algorithm. A patient who has symptoms concerning for COVID-19 will still be tested as a person under investigation (PUI) with a rule out COVID status and cared for under enhanced precautions. Patients being screened who do not have symptoms consistent with COVID-19 will be separated based on exposure history and risk factors using logic in the screening and clearance order.

Patients with a high-risk exposure will be tested with a COVID-19 exposure status and under enhanced precautions. High-risk exposure includes those who have a known exposure or a close contact with COVID-19, are homeless, or are coming from a congregate living setting (e.g. jail, shelter, nursing home, LTACH). Patients without this exposure will continue care under universal masking. More information is available on the Universal Testing FAQ.