COVID-19: Clinical Resources & Patient Education

Testing and Diagnosis

• Certain COVID-19 Serology/Antibody Tests Should Not Be Used: FDA issues a letter for clinical laboratory staff and health care providers to recommend adherence to the FDA's "removal" test list. (6/19/20)
• AAFP COVID-19 Testing Resources web page: This web page provides information on who to test, access and availability, types of tests, results, specimen collection, and coding and billing. (Updated 5/13/20)
• Physician FAQs: COVID-19 and the Flu: As flu season approaches, your patients may have questions about the difference between COVID-19 and the flu. Share these points with your staff and patients. (9/4/20)

Interim Guidance for Clinical Management

• Outpatient Management of COVID-19: Rapid Evidence Review: AFP addresses the lack of evidence-based treatments for outpatient settings; management is supportive and should include education about isolation. 
• Updated Interim Guidance for Clinical Management of Patients with COVID-19 (6/30/20)
• Reinfection with COVID-19 Reports: There have been some reports of reinfection, but these are rare. The CDC is monitoring these cases and develop criteria and guidance for potential cases of reinfection. (10/27/20)

Considerations for Special Populations

• Guidance for Children/Adolescents (8/14/20)
• Updated Guidance for Care of Neonates (8/3/20)
  
• Communication Toolkit for Migrants, Refugees, and Other Limited-English-Proficient Populations: A CDC resource for public health professionals to reach populations who need COVID-19 prevention messaging in their native languages. (6/15/20)
• Patient-Centered Care for Pregnant Patients during the COVID-19 Pandemic: This joint statement affirms that licensed and accredited hospitals and birth centers will take precautions to remain safe places to give birth. (3/30/20)
  
• AAFP Statement on Breastfeeding and COVID-19: The AAFP recommends promotion of breastfeeding and parent-infant bonding, and avoidance of parent-infant separation. (4/15/20) The AAFP offers additional breastfeeding resources to support your patients. 
• AAFP Smoking Cessation Resources for Family Physicians: Tobacco users are more likely to have COVID-19 progression, requiring more extensive treatment and hospitalization. Start the conversation with your patients and use these tools to help them cut their risk. (4/15/20) 
• CDC Guidance on Reopening Schools: Family physicians should closely monitor plans to reopen schools in their area and continue promoting routine vaccinations for school-age children to prevent other disease outbreaks. (8/21/20) 

Infection Control/Emergency Preparedness

• Quarantine Guidance Updates: View the updated guidance for quarantining and definitions for close-contact. (10/27/20)
• Guidance for Risk Assessment and Public Health Management of Healthcare Personnel with Potential Exposure in Healthcare Setting (6/18/20)
• Healthcare Emergency Preparedness Information Gateway: This resource from HHS, which includes COVID-19 information, offers technical assistance on health emergency preparedness to health care organizations and physicians. (6/12/20) 
  
• Strategies for Optimizing the Supply of PPE: Guidance on prioritizing and reusing. (7/16/20)
• Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for COVID-19: Key information for patients and health care professionals. (8/4/20)  
  
• Preparedness Resources for Hospitals and Healthcare Professionals: Two checklists identify preparedness actions that can be taken now. (8/14/20)
  
• Preparing for COVID-19: Long-term Care Facilities, Nursing Homes (6/25/20) 
  
• Interim Guidance for Implementing Home Care of People Not Required Hospitalization: Guidance for health care professionals coordinating home care and isolation for patients with confirmed infection. (6/28/20)
  
• Travel: Frequently Asked Questions and Answers (8/9/20) 

Patient Education