scholarly journals Development of an employee call center for healthcare workers with symptoms and exposures to COVID-19

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 18
Author(s):  
Bimal Ashar ◽  
Benjamin F. Bigelow ◽  
Renee Demski ◽  
Clarence Lam ◽  
Jennifer Parks ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Occupational Health ◽  
Healthcare System ◽  
Call Center ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Health Response ◽  
Call Volume

Coronavirus disease 2019 placed unprecedented challenges on the modern healthcare system. In addition to caring for patients directly affected by the virus, hospitals and clinics had to quickly mobilize forces in order to protect and manage employees with symptoms and/or exposures to COVID-19. Interventions are needed to efficiently diagnose and quarantine healthcare workers with disease while returning those without disease expediently in order to maintain a workforce capable of dealing with the pandemic surge. This article describes the Johns Hopkins system-wide occupational health response to the coronavirus outbreak. Specifically, the steps taken to develop and implement an employee covid call center that fielded 9,000 calls during the 2½ month initial surge of the virus are outlined. The 24/7 availability and rapid triage of healthcare workers led to an ultimate decline in call volume despite increasing exposure to the virus and rising hospitalizations.

scholarly journals COVID-19 Vaccine Intention among Healthcare Workers in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Survey

Vaccines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 835
Author(s):  
Mohammed Noushad ◽  
Mohammad Zakaria Nassani ◽  
Anas B. Alsalhani ◽  
Pradeep Koppolu ◽  
Fayez Hussain Niazi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Healthcare System ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Vaccine Coverage ◽  
Vaccination Campaign ◽  
Herd Immunity ◽  
Positive Sign ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Public Health Strategies

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused largescale morbidity and mortality and a tremendous burden on the healthcare system. Healthcare workers (HCWs) require adequate protection to avoid onward transmission and minimize burden on the healthcare system. Moreover, HCWs can also influence the general public into accepting the COVID-19 vaccine. Therefore, determining COVID-19 vaccine intention among HCWs is of paramount importance to plan tailor-made public health strategies to maximize vaccine coverage. A structured questionnaire was administered in February and March 2021 among HCWs in Saudi Arabia using convenience sampling, proceeding the launch of the vaccination campaign. HCWs from all administrative regions of Saudi Arabia were included in the study. In total, 674 out of 1124 HCWs responded and completed the survey (response rate 59.9%). About 65 percent of the HCWs intended to get vaccinated. The intention to vaccinate was significantly higher among HCWs 50 years of age or older, Saudi nationals and those who followed the updates about COVID-19 vaccines (p < 0.05). The high percentage (26 percent) of those who were undecided in getting vaccinated is a positive sign. As the vaccination campaign gathers pace, the attitude is expected to change over time. Emphasis should be on planning healthcare strategies to convince the undecided HCWs into accepting the vaccine in order to achieve the coverage required to achieve herd immunity.

scholarly journals Occupational health risk among healthcare workers during COVID-19 pandemic: actions to limit the risk

2021 ◽  
Vol 96 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Eman Casper
Keyword(s):  
Occupational Health ◽  
Health Risk ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
World Health ◽  
High Morbidity ◽  
Wuhan City ◽  
Coronavirus Infection ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Respiratory Droplets ◽  
Very High

AbstractThe World Health Organization declared coronavirus infection 2019 (COVID-19) as a pandemic in March 2020. The infection with coronavirus started in Wuhan city, China, in December 2019. As of October 2020, the disease was reported in 235 countries. The coronavirus infection 2019 (COVID-19) is a disease with high morbidity and mortality. As of February 2021, the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 globally is 102,942,987 and 2,232,233 deaths according to WHO report. This infection is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), which is a ribonucleic acid (RNA) β-coronavirus. The infection is mainly transmitted through respiratory droplets.Healthcare workers (HCWs) play an essential role at the front lines, providing care for patients infected with this highly transmittable disease. They are exposed to very high occupational health risk as they frequently contact the infective persons. In order to limit the number of infected cases and deaths among healthcare workers, it is crucial to have better awareness, optimistic attitude, efficient PPE, and adequate health practices about COVID-19.

scholarly journals Fendrix® Vaccine Effectiveness in Healthcare Workers Who Are Non-Responsive to Engerix B® Vaccination

Vaccines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 279
Author(s):  
Juan José Tejada-Pérez ◽  
Juan José Vázquez-Vicente ◽  
María Renée Herrera-Burgos ◽  
Francisco Gabriel Martín-Martín ◽  
Tesifón Parrón-Carreño ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Service ◽  
Hepatitis B ◽  
Occupational Health ◽  
Health Personnel ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Vaccination Schedule ◽  
Infected Blood ◽  
Immunological Responses ◽  
Bodily Fluids ◽  
Transmission Mechanisms

Hepatitis B (HBV) is a pathogen virus with transmission mechanisms that include contact with the infected blood or bodily fluids of the infected organism. Nowadays, healthcare workers are one of the most exposed groups to HBV. Conventionally, completing a vaccine series dosage with Engerix B® lowers this risk by providing workers with immunity to the virus. However, through the years, we have encountered nonresponsive health personnel to the Engerix B® vaccine; hence, the Occupational Health Service of Poniente Hospital studied the Fendrix® adjuvanted vaccine as an alternative vaccine to develop immunological responses in healthcare workers who do not respond to vaccination with Engerix B®. In our study, we employed a vaccination schedule with the Fendrix® vaccine, performing serology tests on the cases after the application of each dose. The results obtained showed humoral immunity in 92.3% of the cases, with a remarkable increase in antibody titer after the first doses. These encouraging results support the future inclusion of this vaccine as one possible alternative for the immunization to HBV for healthcare workers nonresponsive to Engerix B®.

scholarly journals Healthcare Workers: Occupational Health Promotion and Patient Safety

2018 ◽  
Vol 42 (9) ◽  
Author(s):  
Pilar Baylina ◽  
Carla Barros ◽  
Carla Fonte ◽  
Sónia Alves ◽  
Álvaro Rocha
Keyword(s):  
Health Promotion ◽  
Patient Safety ◽  
Occupational Health ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Occupational Health Promotion

scholarly journals Nano Silver Coated Surgical Apparels and Phaco Needles for Safety of Ophthalmic Surgeons in View of COVID-19 Pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 9-12
Author(s):  
Santosh Dnyanmote ◽  
Jorge Alio ◽  
Anuradha Dnyanmote
Keyword(s):  
Healthcare System ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Respiratory Virus ◽  
Hospital Staff ◽  
Infected Person ◽  
Source Of Infection ◽  
Potential Source ◽  
Corona Virus ◽  
Co Morbidity ◽  
Recent Outbreak

Background: In view of the recent outbreak of the pandemic caused by novel corona virus 19 (n-covid) which has thrown the overall healthcare system that has created fear, apprehension and anxiety amongst all surgeons. Ophthalmic surgeons are no exceptions. The new corona virus is a respiratory virus of the Coronoviridae family containing a single strand of RNA which spreads primarily through droplets generated when an infected person coughs or sneezes or through droplets of saliva or discharge from the nose. A person can get infected by the virus if the person is within 1 meter of a person with COVID 19 or by touching contaminated surface and then touching eyes, nose or mouth. Methods: Standard recommendations to prevent the spread of COVID-19 include frequent cleaning of hands using alcohol based hand rubs or soap and water. Covering the nose and mouth with a proper mask, covering skin, eyes, hair, hands and legs with proper apparel is important. Just like elderly members of the society, the healthcare workers who have some co-morbidity are susceptible to COVID-19 invasion. Asymptomatic carriers who may present with senile or pre-senile cataract can be a potential source of infection to other patients, hospital staff, surgeons and others. Conclusion: It is important that all the microsurgical instruments which will be used for phacoemulsification be properly sterilized. The surfaces of these instruments should remain free of contaminants as these instruments will be used multiple times in other patients as well.

scholarly journals Healthcare workers’ legal liability and immunity during the COVID-19 pandemic

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Nasser Hammad Al-Azri
Keyword(s):  
Public Good ◽  
Healthcare System ◽  
Disaster Response ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Legal Liability ◽  
Working Environment ◽  
The Public ◽  
Healthcare Workforce ◽  
Healthcare Practice

Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic is the most unprecedented crisis facing modern healthcare governance in a century. Many healthcare activities are attracting scrutiny from ethical and legal perspectives. Therefore, healthcare professionals are concerned about legal ambiguity regarding legal liability and immunity in their areas of practice. Law is a key response activity that promotes a sense of safety and security among healthcare workers. This article describes why it is important formally to address issues of altered operations in healthcare practice during emergencies. Furthermore, this article provides suggestions regarding solutions to the issue of legal liability during disasters. Implementing ethical and legal clarity during disaster response is a necessity for a strong healthcare system at every level from international to local in order to achieve a stable healthcare workforce operating for the public good within a safe and secure working environment.

scholarly journals 938Identification of High Risk Healthcare Workers with Latent Tuberculosis Infection (LTBI) in an Inner City Healthcare System

2014 ◽  
Vol 1 (suppl_1) ◽  
pp. S273-S273
Author(s):  
Sorabh Dhar ◽  
Anupama Neelakanta ◽  
Jisha John ◽  
Russell Grimshaw ◽  
Jim Russell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Risk ◽  
Inner City ◽  
Healthcare System ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Latent Tuberculosis Infection ◽  
Latent Tuberculosis ◽  
Tuberculosis Infection

scholarly journals SARS-CoV-2 exposure, symptoms and seroprevalence in healthcare workers in Sweden

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ann-Sofie Rudberg ◽  
Sebastian Havervall ◽  
Anna Månberg ◽  
August Jernbom Falk ◽  
Katherina Aguilera ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Occupational Exposure ◽  
Occupational Health ◽  
Acute Care ◽  
Odds Ratio ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Acute Care Hospital ◽  
Care Hospital ◽  
Patient Contact ◽  
Igg Antibodies ◽  
Time Period

Abstract SARS-CoV-2 may pose an occupational health risk to healthcare workers. Here, we report the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, self-reported symptoms and occupational exposure to SARS-CoV-2 among healthcare workers at a large acute care hospital in Sweden. The seroprevalence of IgG antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 was 19.1% among the 2149 healthcare workers recruited between April 14th and May 8th 2020, which was higher than the reported regional seroprevalence during the same time period. Symptoms associated with seroprevalence were anosmia (odds ratio (OR) 28.4, 95% CI 20.6–39.5) and ageusia (OR 19.2, 95% CI 14.3–26.1). Seroprevalence was also associated with patient contact (OR 2.9, 95% CI 1.9–4.5) and covid-19 patient contact (OR 3.3, 95% CI 2.2–5.3). These findings imply an occupational risk for SARS-CoV-2 infection among healthcare workers. Continued measures are warranted to assure healthcare workers safety and reduce transmission from healthcare workers to patients and to the community.

scholarly journals Mental health care for medical staff and affiliated healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 241-247 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew Walton ◽  
Esther Murray ◽  
Michael D Christian
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Medical Staff ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Valuable Resource ◽  
Public Health Response ◽  
Critical Part ◽  
The Public ◽  
Health Response

The COVID-19 pandemic is an unprecedented challenge for society. Supporting the mental health of medical staff and affiliated healthcare workers (staff) is a critical part of the public health response. This paper details the effects on staff and addresses some of the organisational, team and individual considerations for supporting staff (pragmatically) during this pandemic. Leaders at all levels of health care organisations will find this a valuable resource.

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