Learning in a Time of Crisis: Creating a Canadian COVID-19 Registry [Funder: Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation, Genome BC]

Evidence-informed decision-making is crucial to ensure optimal care delivery and resource allocation in EDs as treatment decisions are often made early (e.g., on intubation) or in vulnerable individuals (e.g., homeless). In China and Italy, 80% of patients evaluated for COVID-19 were discharged from the ED. Our goal is to develop a national registry of suspected and confirmed COVID-19 patients who present to Emergency Departments (ED) across Canada. This study has the potential to have a significant impact on resource allocation and planning by characterizing the burden, prognosis and resource utilization of ED patients evaluated for COVID-19, including for vulnerable populations. We anticipate that this study will have a significant impact on clinical decision-making by identifying early (ED) risk factors and treatments (e.g., oxygen delivery mode, ventilation strategy) associated poor outcomes and for vulnerable populations. By developing clinical decision instruments, we will help ED clinicians ensure optimal early clinical decision-making and rationalize resources.