Respiratory Virus Testing Guidance for Flu Season

AdventHealth has developed a respiratory virus testing algorithm to assist its providers this flu season. Physician leaders from AdventHealth’s emergency department, infectious disease, inpatient, pediatrics and pharmacy teams all collaborated to provide actionable guidance that ensures efficient testing – matching the right patient with the right test and/or vaccination at the right time.

Starting with direction from the Centers for Disease Control, Dr. Jose Alexander, medical director of the microbiology and virology department for AdventHealth’s Central Florida Division, worked across teams to ensure the health system’s algorithm is both widely applicable and customized for the community’s unique needs. The algorithm, which focuses on virus prevalence and historical data, vulnerable patient populations and test availability across AdventHealth facilities, was then reviewed and approved by its Lab and Test Utilization Committee.

Another member of the team who played a leading role was Dr. Tanya Agard, medical director of hospital medicine for AdventHealth’s Central Florida Division. She underscored the importance of providers familiarizing themselves with the algorithm as a best practice in support of their own clinical judgment.

“The algorithm does not override or supplant a provider’s clinical judgement,” noted Dr. Agard. “As we see patients for both testing and vaccine considerations, we must look at them as individuals. Rather than assume one person is the same as another in their age group, for instance, be sure to take the time to look at the specifics of their risk factors for complications, contraindications and whether they are immunosuppressed. These are all important aspects for providing personalized and consumer-focused, connected care in our community.”