An Interprofessional Approach in Caring for a Patient on Maintenance Hemodialysis with COVID-19 in Toronto, Canada: An Educational Case Report

Abstract

Rationale: Hemodialysis patients are at significant risk from COVID-19 due to their frequent interaction with the health care system and medical comorbidities. We followed up the trajectory of the first COVID-19–positive maintenance hemodialysis patient at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto. We present the lessons learned and changes in practices that occurred to prevent an outbreak in our center. Presenting concerns of the patient: The patient, a 66-year-old woman on in-center hemodialysis, initially presented with a 2-day history of a productive cough. She subsequently developed a fever, was placed on contact and droplet isolation, and admitted to hospital. Diagnoses: On March 13, 2020, the patient tested positive for COVID-19. Within the next 48 hours, she developed hypoxia and acute respiratory distress syndrome as a complication of her illness requiring an extended critical care stay. This extended critical care stay resulted in critical illness–associated secondary sclerosing cholangitis. Interventions: An interprofessional team was established, performing rapid Plan-Do-Study-Act quality improvement cycles to improve screening practices and promote the safety of patients and staff in the hemodialysis unit. Outcomes: We present here the lessons learned, the changes to our screening protocols, and the clinical course of our first in-center hemodialysis patient with SARS-CoV-2. Teaching points: Regular review of the infection screening processes is paramount in preventing outbreaks of COVID-19, particularly in hemodialysis units. Hospital admission should be arranged if a patient exhibits any clinical signs of hemodynamic compromise or hypoxia. Early education for health care practitioners caring for patients with COVID-19 and refresher information regarding personal protective equipment helped promote the safety of staff and prevent health care–associated outbreaks.