(Posted 3/11/20): During an outbreak, our healthcare system relies on sick people being evaluated in the most appropriate setting. Fortunately, it appears that the large percentage of people who may become infected with COVID-19 do not need emergency care. To best address the increased demand for medical evaluation, this includes private providers conducting phone triage of their “worried well” patients who may not need evaluation, private providers seeing those are stable who do need evaluation, and emergency departments for those who have more serious symptoms. Additionally, our hospitals are actively planning on how best to address a surge in patients presenting to emergency departments.