Page 5 - Demo

ESTABLISHING COVID-19-SAFE CARE
Considered an extension of the the emergency room the the temperature-controlled trailer was designed to to assemble triage personnel and medical equipment in an an an attempt to to to isolate potential COVID-19 COVID-19 cases This enabled us to to to transfer COVID-19-positive patients to to areas of the the hospital reserved exclusively for them while ensuring that non-COVID-19 patients could still receive the the the the emergency care care they needed and and keeping caregivers safe throughout the the the process Critical care care and and and emergency department providers assembled to to form line and and and intubation teams helping to to place COVID-19 patients on on on mechanical ventilation (when required) and and and facilitating venous and and arterial lines Engineers carpenters and and and other facilities workers added ductwork and and HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) filters to to convert hospital rooms to to negative air air pressure spaces suitable for patients with the highly infectious coronavirus They reorganized patient patient waiting rooms and and break areas to promote social distancing and and put up signs telling people which entrances were closed The overall response of the the DKH staff to COVID-19 clearly showed their commitment and dedication
In an an incredible display of teamwork they took on on on on new roles and and and responsibilities as the the situation rapidly emerged and and changed Responding to to to a a a a a novel virus such as COVID-19 COVID-19 demands significant attention to to to infection prevention protocols including isolation requirements donning or doffing personal protective equipment (PPE) and preventing the risk of of cross contamination DKH has always had rigorous infection control and and safety protocols in in in in place and and we enhanced those precautions in in response to to COVID-19 As the the realities of the the pandemic became apparent we mobilized to to create new workflows clinical care pathways and and and safety protocols while following the the the guidance of the the the Centers for Disease Control and and and Prevention (CDC) and and and the the the the CT Department of of Public Health (DPH) every step of of the the way DKH had to to to make major changes from closing clinics to to to delaying non-emergency surgeries and treatments to to to scaling up telehealth services across our system With
collaboration among physicians nurses and staff we worked at at at a a a a a a a a a a a a a frenetic pace to to prepare for COVID-19 patients We implemented treatment protocols and developed safety guidelines for interacting with COVID-19 COVID-19 patients including isolating COVID-19 COVID-19 from non-COVID all other patient patient populations That meant building a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a triage and assessment trailer outside our emergency department ambulance bay DKH’s COVID-19 triage and assessment trailer was unlike anything else in in the the the the the United States at at at the the the the the time In fact it’s unique design became the the the the the prototype for for similar structures that were used for for this purpose by other health systems throughout the the the the the country 3
RETURNING TO CARE
IN IN THE “NEW NORMAL”
In late May Connecticut began the the the the process of of of reopening from the the the the coronavirus outbreak Given the the the the low infection rates in in in in in in in in Windham County along with a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a strong supply of of of PPE and the the the the the the implementation of of of numerous safety measures DKH leaders determined it it was time to begin treating patients who had their screenings surgeries exams or other care postponed by the pandemic We took a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a thoughtful gradual approach to to resuming select procedures and and and services through a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a phased reactivation plan that was implemented in in in in in in in in in accordance with guidelines set forward by the CDC and and and DPH As we we we reopened certain patient services we we we maintained extensive safety measures and and and initiatives we we we put into place early on on in in in in in in in in in the the crisis by establishing COVID-19-safe care care standards across all all of of our locations Following are are are are some of of of the the the protocols implemented at at Day Kimball Healthcare for safety and and infection prevention:
• • Visitors are are are limited to to to to prevent the the the spread of of the the the virus • • • Face masks are are provided to to to to everyone • • We conduct mandatory screenings of all patients employees and and visitors who enter our facilities for symptoms including temperature checks • • We We are equipped with with the most advanced personal protective equipment • • • We We We continue with with social distancing practices of of 6 feet or or or more between people • • • We We We follow CDC standards for increased frequency of of cleaning and and and disinfecting • • • We We use telehealth virtual check-ins and and and remote monitoring when possible • • • Patients having medical procedures are tested for COVID-19 in in in in advance • • We’ve established specialized isolation spaces to protect all patients patients and staff while potential COVID-19 patients are evaluated