Since the number of COVID-19 cases have ceded to lower , manageable levels , hospitals have begun to open their care services to pre-2020 conditions . Lessons learned from the pandemic informed how the delivery of care can be effective through :
●Reviewing and updating emergency operations , infection prevention and control , and institutional and departmental policies ,
●Creating a response handbook based on critical triggers which include but are not limited to :
• Monitor CDC , WHO and other global health watchdogs by emergency preparedness committees and IP & C
• Establish a global raw materials , work-in-progress and finished goods alert system and report dashboard
• List key departments – such as IP & C , VAP , SC — who should be notified based on mutually agreed upon on-hand and available-to-purchase product thresholds
●Identifying top product needs in incident categories and develop a list of key characteristics for each product to facilitate quick decision-making . For example , for airborne contagion : non-powered or powered respirators , face shields , protective gowns , oxygen masks / tubing , list of key characteristics each product type
●Adopting the communication style and methods that worked during Covid19 as your organization ’ s everyday method .
The COVID-19 pandemic has taught us many lessons but the importance of interprofessional relationships has been undeniably one of the best learned .
Barbara Strain , MA , CVAHP , is an independent healthcare value consultant whose clients range from new emerging and disruptive technology to Fortune 500 companies . Strain honed her expertise over a 40-year career as a healthcare provider across multiple specialties first in clinical laboratory operations , microbiology , disinfection and sterilization , and infection control , then as a value analysis professional . She is a founding member and past-president of the Association of Healthcare Value Analysis Professionals ( AHVAP ).
References :
1 . https :// www . cdc . gov / coronavirus / 2019-ncov / hcp / non-us-settings / overview / index . html # IPC-priorities
2 . https :// www . npr . org / sections / health-shots / 2020 / 04 / 02 / 826105278 / ventilators-are-no-panacea-for-critically-ill-covid-19-patients
3 . https :// www . fda . gov / medical-devices / letters-health-care-providers / using-ventilator-splitters-during-covid-19-pandemic-letter-health-care-providers
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