What are the standards for identify, isolate, inform?

Identify: Protocols must be readily available for use at the point of care and may include the emergency department, urgent care, and ambulatory clinics. At a minimum, identify screening procedures must be implemented in the hospital-based emergency care areas, such as emergency departments and urgent care. 

Isolate: Isolation procedures for transmission-based precautions should include the safe provision of care while the patient is in isolation and to reduce exposure among staff, patients, and visitors using the hierarchy of controls. Procedures must be in place where the patient is housed or being cared for. 

Inform: Your institution can determine which key staff you will notify internally. Procedures for informing public health authorities should be guided by your local law and regulation in your own internal procedures. Your institution will need to refer to its internal processes and policies to decide whether your institution may deploy Emergency Management procedures. For surge conditions and questions about maintaining, expanding, decreasing, or closing operations should be handled for your organization’s Emergency Operations Plan.