Question

Research how clinic’s across the country have changed the way they see patients in this current pandemic. Tell the reader, the steps you would take after conducting your research and reviewing the latest Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines. How would you change the office setting? How would you communicate differently? How would you see patients? What happens if a staff member tests positive for COVID-19. (750 word)

Answer 1

COVID 19 AND CHANGES IN CLINICS (BASED ON LITERATURE REVIEWS AND CDC GUIDELINES)

FOR PATIENT CARE:

Provide telehealth services

screen patients with symptoms of covid-19, and provide them separate clinical area for getting care. Keep such patients in clinical quarentine until their results come

provide urgent care for non covid conditions

prioritize care to be provided to the non the non covid patients, and provide home based care if there is no urgent care required

Offer services of mental and behavioral Health Care providers

Ensure access to primary care providers and specialists

involve in case management for patients who cannot access care

do regular follow up once the patients get discharged

HANDLING PATIENTS

Follow universal precautions

Keep social distancing as much possible

Educate client regarding the special protocols, need for universal precautions, and social distancing

Screen patients, keep the patients under quarentine if they shows symptoms of COVID 19

Try to get results of COVID 19 test, as early as possible, so that the patient can be transferred to either covid 19 or non covid treatment section

CHANGE IN OFFICE SETTING

Keep social distancing

Educate patients regarding new protocols

Make available all the necessary materials and equipment for maintaining the clinic's protocols ( especially to follow universal precautions)

Modify timing according to guidelines

Provide less number of appointments at a time.

COMMUNICATION

Keep social distancing

Use nitice boards, wall papers, bullettin boards effectively to communicate, so tgat face to face communication can be reduced

Use tele health services

HOW WOULD YOU SEE THE PATIENTS

patients will be provided with specific appointment time

Priority will be provided, if health condition warrants it

Follow universal precautions, wear PPE kit whenever necessary

Give appointments as per screening for covid 19, for those patients who are symptomatic

WHAT HAPPENS IF A STAFF MEMBER TESTS POSITIVE FOR COVID 19

The covid positive staff member will be shifted to covid care centre/ quarentine facility / home quarentine according to the severity of illness

Primary contacts will also be advised for home quarentine for 7-14 days as per guidelines

High risk primary contacts are tested immediately

Fumigation /disinfection of the clinical setting, disinfection of all articles to be done

Psychological and financial support to the affected staff and their family

Follow up of health conditions of all the staff under quarentine