Online sources and tools: Protecting your Healthcare workers

As of April 9, 2020 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released a report titled “Characteristics of Health Care Personnel (HCP) with COVID-19 — United States” has highlighted 9,282 U.S. COVID-19 cases reported among HCP, the median age was 42 years, and 73% were female, reflecting these distributions among the HCP workforce. HCP patients reported contact with COVID-19 patients in health care, household, and community settings. Most HCP patients were not hospitalized; however, severe outcomes, including death, were reported among all age groups. In the meantime, Johns Hopkins University Coronavirus Resource Center shows the other million on June 22 of coronavirus cases came at a quicker rate than the start of the first case in January 2020, and 3 million U.S. cases were recorded less than a month later, on July 8. Cases surpassed 4 million just 15 days later, on July 23. Given the increase in cases,  it is critical to ensure a healthy and safe workplace for our Healthcare workers. Hence we are sharing here online guidance sources need to check to protect yourself and your workers.

Healthcare workers’ tasks are associated with exposure risk levels. Workers who are performing administrative duties in non-public areas of healthcare facilities are categorized as a low-risk Level, but still with caution. Also, Health workers are providing care to the general public who are not known or suspected; COVID-19 patients are again exposed to medium risk. Once a healthcare worker enters a known or suspected COVID-19 patient’s room, the risk becomes high. In case a worker should perform aerosol-generating procedures (e.g., intubation, cough induction procedures, bronchoscopies, some dental procedures, and exams, or invasive specimen collection) on known or suspected COVID-19 patients the risk reaches to the maximum level (Very High Risk). As a result, we need to look at healthcare workers’ risks and protective measures in terms of daily performing tasks.

CDC is providing guiding Information for Healthcare Professionals about Coronavirus (COVID-19) in three sections: “Care for Patients, Protect Patients and Workers, and Facility Guidance.” Also, the CDC has a Clinician On-Call Center hotline with trained CDC clinicians standing by to answer COVID-19 questions. Also, check the COVID-19 Surge Tool, a spreadsheet-based tool that hospital administrators and public health officials can use to estimate the surge in demand for hospital-based services during the COVID-19 pandemic. PPE Burn Rate Calculator is another spreadsheet that can be helpful for healthcare facilities plans and optimize the use of personal protective equipment (PPE). Another good idea is you can sign up for the Health Alert Network (HAN) for alerts.

Many Health Workers spend a large portion of their days at work, often in close contact with suspected COVID-19 patients and the public. It is essential to recognize and take action to prevent transmission of infectious diseases, COVID-19, at the workplace. Make sure to provide a safe environment by ordering enough Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Visit www.vizocare.com or submit your purchase requests by contacting sales@vizocare.com.