The Utility of Preliminary Patient Evaluation in a Febrile Respiratory Infectious Disease Unit outside the Emergency Department

Kang, Jun Sik; Jhun, Byung Woo; Yoon, Hee; Lim, Seong Mi; Ko, Eunsil; Park, Joo Hyun; Hwang, Sung Yeon; Lee, Se Uk; Lee, Tae Rim; Cha, Won Chul; Shin, Tae Gun; Sim, Min Seob; Jo, Ik Joon

The triage room is in the front of the FRIDU, which is located outside the ED ( Fig. 2A) , and includes an administration area, a nurses' triage area, and a doctor's examination room (Fig. 2B ). There are also 6 isolation rooms with negative pressure ventilation systems, each with a high-efficiency particulate air filter with an airtight backdraft damper (15-30 air changes per hour). An anteroom is located in front of every isolation room, and the inter-room pressure difference is −4.5 to −17 Pa. Portable radiological and ultrasound examinations, blood sample kits, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests for respiratory viruses, and sputum examination kits were available in every isolation and laboratory room. Oxygen supply systems (nasal prong, facial mask, etc.), devices for airway management and central vascu- lar access, mechanical ventilation, and remote vital sign monitors were also provided.