Dr Shirish Kulkarni

Insights of Hospital Operations during Global Pandemic

For India and for Maharashtra state as well, the first wave struck between July 2020 to November 2020. This was the (first) time when the complete healthcare system was overwhelmed. The challenges faced by hospitals were countless, shortage of manpower, shortage of medicines, line to treatment, facility revamp, PPE kits – Masks unavailability and their rates, transportation, ambulance services to name few.

Today on 30th April 2021, midst of Second Wave, India is a leading country internationally to add maximum number of covid positive cases each day and in India, Maharashtra state is leading among other states.

Hospitals tried their best during this tough time of second wave, although with ample experience of the first wave at disposal.

It all began from around 8th March, cases started increasing, day by day. By the end of March, it already broke previous all records and was marching towards new peak, each day. Hospital operations started parallel activities immediately after analysing the initial trend.

· War room created for standing meetings: Learning from NABH and JCI were executed in real time, at much larger scale and for longer time. Communication channels got tested, leadership skills got tested, new leaders got emerged, new ideas also got tested.

· Core teams created for Infection Control, Duty allocation, Purchases and Linen etc: New vendors got tested, red tapes got removed for certain actions, employee data was getting generated showing results of infection control practices – in real time, dedication and hard-work got tested, new managers / in-charges emerged from the staff.

· Number of O2 Beds were increased: This pandemic changed the general classification of wards from General ward – ICU and HDU to general ward – O2 ward – ICU and HDU.

· New pulse oximeters, HFNC, Ventilators and other ICU equipment were purchased: Donations under CSR got channelized, HFNC played important role – arrangements became a big challenge.

· Donning Doffing areas allocation done, new areas developed: Making the use of experience gathered from first wave, new designs were implemented which were more user friendly.

· Substitute to PPE kits and overall PPE kits utilization policies were made in action: In 2020, lockdown affected the delivery of PPE kits and several other vital goods, few hospitals even ordered raincoats and shower caps so as to safeguard their healthcare workers. This year, scrubs, gowns and other arrangements were made immediately.

· Transportation of staff – options were kept ready, letters issued to long distance travelers: HR was now all set to issue pass / letters for travelling, duty allocations and other formalities very smoothly – as the formats were ready and we knew the employees who really contributed a lot.

· Geared up the overall stock of drugs and disposables: This, was again a pain area during last wave and this year with new set of (popular) injectable scarcity – remained the same.

· Dining areas created for healthcare workers – with new SOPs: With work flow analysis, alterations were made; furniture with new design got developed to maintain the distance and considering ease of access.

· Patient movement study and improvisation – was a continues process though

Well, one thing is for sure that for each and every healthcare worker, this period of life is a concentrated dose of learning.



https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/insights-hospital-operations-during-global-pandemic-shirish-kulkarni

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