The ongoing global MERS-CoV outbreak presents several dangers to the hospital and the radiology department, specifically. First and foremost, there is a possibility that infected patients will enter the location, potentially spreading the disease to workers or other residents. To that end, a reinforcement of the standard prevention measures to further reduce the danger is necessary. Second, there is an expectation that the flow of patients to the radiology department is going to increase, possibly doubling. As such, the workers there have to be prepared to continue providing essential services at a high pace while maintaining sanitary conditions. As the director of the radiology department that is also responsible for ED, inpatient floors, and OR, all of these matters are the author’s concern. As such, they have prepared this report to elaborate on the changes in staffing, infection control, and supply distribution they intend to implement.
Staffing
Due to the expectation of the arrival of infected patients, who can contaminate the surfaces they touch, the department will limit itself to essential operations. Seear and Ezezika (2017) define these as X-rays, ultrasounds, and technician training. All of the other practices will be suspended, and the staff responsible for them will be partially furloughed. These operations will only be performed if there is an immediate and urgent need, and the staff on duty should be able to handle them. The number of workers who handle the essential operations will be increased based on the patient flow projections weighted against the department’s current capacity. Moreover, technician training will also be stopped for the duration of the outbreak because it is unsafe, and there will likely be no time for it.
Infection Control
Generally, radiographic instruments tend not to penetrate the patient’s tissues or touch them directly. As such, infection control procedures tend to be laxer there than in departments such as surgery. However, as Iannucci and Howerton (2017) note, there are still opportunities for cross-contamination. As such, due to the outbreak, controls will be intensified, and instruments will be disinfected after each use. With that said, due to the high throughput, it is not feasible to use high-intensity procedures because of the time and cost involved. As such, the department will engage in medium-intensity disinfection after each usage of its services. The staff will be using personal protection equipment such as masks and gloves and be instructed to wash their hands regularly. In doing so, it should be able to reduce the incidence of infection for both the staff and the patients.
The other settings under the management of the author require more stringent measures. The ED and the OR will be subject to strict disinfection measures after each usage. Moreover, the inpatient floors are particularly concerning because of the constant risk that they represent. Regular cleaning and disinfection will take place wherever possible, and patient monitoring and isolation will take place. Bearman et al. (2018) recommend the usage of safe injection practices and respiratory hygiene alongside cough etiquette. The staff will be reminded to wear PPE at all times and handle all surfaces that they touch carefully and safely. Additional caution will be applied when dealing with patients who cannot move, as their surroundings cannot be disinfected thoroughly. With these measures, the danger of infection should become less pressing, though the chance always exists, and vigilance will be required.
Supply Distribution
The primary problem in the handling of increased hospital demand during an outbreak of an infection is the limited amount of available supplies. They will be distributed based on the danger of each area for which the author is responsible. The inpatient floors are the most problematic because of the high concentration of potentially infected people there and the need for close interaction with them. As such, they will receive the highest proportion of supplies of every kind. Many of the same considerations apply to the ED, and it will also have a high priority, though its smaller size will mean it receives less total equipment. The radiology department and the OR will receive a smaller amount of supplies because they represent smaller dangers and do not undergo the same sterilization procedures. However, the author will try to ensure that the needs of each area under their oversight are met.
Conclusion
The emergence of the MERS-CoV outbreak is going to change the priorities of the hospital to an increased focus on infection control. All non-essential activities will be suspended, and some of the workers who handle them will be reassigned to X-rays and ultrasounds to handle the increased demand. Disinfection procedures will happen more often and be more thorough, even with equipment that does not touch the patients. Staff will wear personal protective equipment and handle surfaces carefully at all times, and patients will be asked to observe cough etiquette. In terms of supply distribution priorities, the inpatient floors and the ED will take priority, though the management will also attempt to satisfy the needs of the other departments. The prevention of infections is a significant concern, and it is critical to address them with all possible attention.
Educational Materials
- Hand Hygiene 101. Web.
- Infection Prevention for Patients. Web.
- Safe Injection Practice. Web.
- Precautions for Potentially Infected Patients. Web.
- Disinfection and Sterilization Guideline. Web.
- Updates to the Guideline. Web.
References
Bearman, G., Munoz-Price, S., Morgan, D. J., & Murthy, R. K. (eds.). (2018). Infection prevention: New perspectives and controversies. Springer.
Iannucci, J. M., & Howerton, L. J. (2017). Dental radiography: A workbook and laboratory manual (5th ed.). Elsevier.
Seear, M., & Ezezika, O. (2017). An introduction to global health (3rd ed.). Canadian Scholars.