University of Pittsburgh Faculty and Students Respond to COVID-19

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ACCP member Amanda Korenoski, Pharm.D., MHA, BCCCP, Assistant Professor in the Department of Pharmacy and Therapeutics at the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy, and Managing Director of the Pittsburgh Poison Center (PPC), has been actively involved in the COVID-19 public health response and emergency planning. Because a hotline for COVID-19 questions from the public was urgently needed, the PPC quickly set-up a call-in service and has taken more than 2200 calls over the first few weeks. University of Pittsburgh pharmacy students have been invaluable in helping to manage the call volume. In addition, the PPC is aiding emergency medical services (EMS) crews in screening patients at high-risk for COVID-19 so that appropriate measures can be taken during EMS evaluation and transport to a hospital. Staff have remotely monitored patients who are generally healthy but have only mild symptoms, to limit the strain on the health care system. Dr. Korenoski is also pharmacy’s representative in efforts to establish a regional alternate care site, an acute care facility to be used in the event of a surge that overwhelms local health care facilities.