Bhubaneswar: In view of a sudden spike in COVID-19 cases, the Odisha government today issued instructions to all government and private hospitals in order to reduce risk of hospitals getting converted to COVID hotspots.
The objective of the guidelines is also to prevent large number of frontline health care providers from getting infected and ensure that all non-Covid health care facilities in the State remain unaffected.
The following instructions are to be strictly adhered to both by hospital management and staff of all Government and Private hospitals.
- All hospitals (Govt. / Private / Corporate / Nursing Homes) are to strictly follow the IPC (Infection Prevention & Control) guidelines. COVID guidelines and treatment guidelines issued from time to time by Govt. of Odisha / Govt. of India.
- It is mandatory to create a separate fever clinic and isolation zone/block in hospitals for purpose of screening ILI / SARI cases, suspected contacts, persons coming from hotspot areas, and any other suspected COVID cases; to provide testing/treating facility to these persons. Such facilities should have separate entry & exit
- All patients coming to the hospital should be screened and triaged observing all IPC protocols.
- All hospitals are to ensure adequate hand washing, hand rub facilities and enforce use of mask and social distancing.
- There should be adequate rational use of PPE by health care professionals as per guidelines.
- There should be safe handling and disinfection of equipment/instruments as per protocol.
- There should be safe handling and cleaning of soiled linen as per protocol.
- Ensure COVID waste management as per guidelines issued.
- Ensure transport and referral of patients after due emergency treatment and stabilisation in a dedicated COVID Ambulance.
- Enforce strict COVID appropriate behaviour amongst staff, patients and others visiting hospitals.
- Must have facilities to deal with all types of emergency procedure for COVID-19 patients including maternity care, safe delivery, and child care.
- When positive cases are detected in any section of the hospital, the other patients of the room must be shifted temporarily to another room. The room must be sanitized and terminally cleaned and can be reused closing down for 24 hours.
- No life-threatening procedure/treatment shall be denied or deferred on the ground of suspicion of COVID infection or non-availability of COVID lest report, the hospital shall undertake such treatment taking all universal precaution as per guidelines.
- Separate Labour Room/ OT facility/ICU for COVID suspect to be preferably set up to isolate such patients.
- There should be adequate signage, IEC materials in all strategic locations inside the hospital to sensitise patients and the public.
- There should be a regular reorientation of health care workers about IPC and other COVID protocols.
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