Admission Guidelines
Prince County/Queen Elizabeth Hospital

Prince County/Queen Elizabeth Hospital

Admission Requirements

Patients will be admitted under their family physician or the hospitalist (unaffiliated) if their oxygen requirements are up to 6Lpm by nasal prongs.

For patients requiring more than 6L by nasal prongs OR for those showing clinical signs of deterioration or a trajectory of illness that suggests a higher level of care may be needed (regardless of current oxygen requirement), early consultation with IM for possible ICU admission is recommended if in keeping with the patient’s goals of care.

For greater clarity, the decision to admit to ICU rests with the IM consultant and there is no specific oxygen level trigger for ICU admission.

ICU Care

Patients admitted to ICU will remain there while they require high flow oxygen or invasive oxygen delivery OR until such time that the ICU physician in consultation with the family physician/hospitalist feels they have made meaningful recovery from their COVID-19 illness and transfer out of ICU is indicated.

A change in goals of care may also support a transfer out of ICU.

ICU Care NOT Appropriate

Patients with goals of care or comorbidities that dictate ICU care is not appropriate will be under their family physician or hospitalist (unaffiliated) with oxygen delivery via nasal prongs (up to 6Lpm).

At QEH, these patients may receive high flow oxygen delivery mechanisms like Airvo or Optiflow on the regular inpatient unit.

At PCH, Airvo or Optiflow oxygen delivery may be administered to this patient subset in the ICU or regular inpatient unit as per PCH protocol.

The family physician/hospitalist can consult with IM on call as needed to determine the best management of these patients.