2020-12-08

COVID-19 and Connect Care - Mobile Device Advantage

We've previously warned that personal devices can act like fomites, and that users should take particular care with frequent cleaning. Device vendors have provided COVID-aware screen and keyboard cleaning recommendations.
Subsequent postings will look at inpatient workflows for physicians participating in the care of COVID-19 patients. These can change perspectives about the infection control risk of using personal devices relative to shared organizational devices. Use of hospital keyboards can pose personal risk if not cleaned between uses. Assignment of a device to an individual for an entire shift or use of a personal device with appropriate cleaning are alternatives. Indeed, if one can restrict oneself to dictation of quick draft notes on-ward and subsequent completion of notes off-ward, a mobile device can be used safely.

In any case, it is important to be reminded about how to clean personal devices.