Facility preparedness for an obstetric unit during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Natl Med J India
; 33(6): 349-357, 2020.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-34341213
ABSTRACT
Covid-19 infection has placed health systems under unprecedented strain and foresight for preparedness is the key factor to avert disaster. Every facility that provides obstetric service needs a certain level of preparedness to be able to handle at least Covid-suspect pregnant women awaiting test reports, who need to be managed as Covid-positive patients till reports are available. Thus, these facilities need to have triage areas and Covid-suspect labour rooms. Healthcare facilities can have designated areas for Covid-positive patients or have referral linkages with designated Covid-positive hospitals. Preparation includes structural reorganization with setting up a Covid-suspect and Covid-positive facility in adequate space, as well as extensive training of staff about infection control practices and rational use of personal protective equipment (PPE). A systematic approach involving five essential steps of making standard operating procedures, infrastructural reorganization for a triage area and a Covid-suspect labour ward, procurement of PPE, managing the personnel and instituting appropriate infection control practices can ensure uninterrupted services to patients without compromising the safety of healthcare providers.
Full text:
1
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Pregnancy Complications, Infectious
/
Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Hospital
/
Triage
/
Infection Control
/
COVID-19
Type of study:
Diagnostic_studies
/
Guideline
Limits:
Female
/
Humans
/
Pregnancy
Language:
En
Year:
2020
Type:
Article