UCH TASK FORCE ON COVID-19 PANDEMIC 13-19 APRIL, 2020 IPC, including PPES Logistics

UCH TASK FORCE ON COVID-19 PANDEMIC
13-19 APRIL, 2020

IPC, including PPES Logistics

Task Force teams conducted three formal Hospital Rounds on Tue, Thu and Sat in all designated areas covering the entire UCH Community (both the Hospital and the College of Medicine). We monitored, educated staff and patient relations, and enforced infection prevention and control (IPC) measures including the screening at entry points, proper hand hygiene, crowd control and physical distancing, and identification of vulnerabilities, and communicating with concerned units/departments for corrective actions. And we carried out spot checks on intervening days (Mon, Wed, Fri, and Sun).

PPES were allocated to the service areas, and we commend some HODs for their support and direct involvement in evaluating PPE needs and managing requisitions, especially with the limited stock. The Task Force has also provided relevant PPEs directly to frontline HCWs who needed them for specific procedures. We seek understanding of all members of staff in this era of rationing PPEs because of the scarcity of these items, globally. However, we’ll endeavour to provide required PPEs to specific procedures, and you could contact the Task Force 24/7 in the event of any unforeseen needs. We attended to all nurses and doctors who needed a PPE surge in their schedules, and we encourage such flexibility as we work daily to optimise the use of available PPEs.

Given some media report of planned mass use of face masks in the State, the Task Force wishes to reiterate that only standard face masks and related PPEs should be used for medical procedures and by HCWs in the frontlines.

Case Management
Two cases of COVID-19 being treated in UCH tested negative.

A UCH member of staff who tested positive to COVID-19 virus is presently being managed according to the protocol, and active contact tracing by the Surveillance Team is ongoing. Self-quarantine is already instituted for known significant contacts among members of staff. Disinfection of affected section of the Hospital has been carried out

Management of the Dead (MotD)

Body of a deceased patient at the ED was flagged as potential COVID-19 and managed accordingly. Post mortem test result is being awaited.

Recommendation

HODs to develop and submit SOPs for scaling up services in the prevailing circumstance as advised by the CMD at the meeting held on 16 April 2020 by Management and Emergency Response Team with HODs.

Keep children and other personal visitors away from all offices and service outlets in UCH.

Activities for the Week (20-26 April 2020)

Scheduled meetings with businesses on UCH Community on 21 April 2020 in collaboration with General Admin to ensure that all business operations are in line with IPC measures.

Continue routine Hospital Rounds and Spot Checks in all areas of UCH Community will continue, and we solicit the support of the entire staff in this assertion: If you see something, say something, and do something!

Please, for all Task Force related issues, call or send SMS to 09062980446