COVID-19 Alert 12 October 2021- Admission process and PPE

Admission process and PPE

Due to increased community transmission of COVID-19 and several exposures due to unrecognised asymptomatic patients, we have changed our admissions process and PPE requirements for healthcare workers with direct patient contact.

These changes are effective immediately.

Testing on admission

All admissions should be swabbed for COVID-19, regardless of where the patient is coming from.

• If the patient meets the current epidemiological conditions for COVID-19 or has symptoms consistent with COVID-19
  Swab the patient and manage as per SCOVID precautions.
• If the patient does not meet the current epidemiological conditions and is asymptomatic
  Swab the patient. They do not need to be managed as a SCOVID patient.

The Non-COVID Asymptomatic PCR Order in EMR will be updated not to show an alert. This is expected to occur on Tuesday morning. Please continue to observe PPE requirements as per EMR in the interim.

Changes to PPE

All healthcare workers with direct (physical) patient contact, when a patient is not identified as SCOVID/COVID, are to follow the following PPE requirements:

• N95 mask and eye protection.
• Gloves must be worn for all patient contact and must be changed in-between each patient and hand hygiene performed. Hand hygiene products such as Avagard must not be used over gloves.
• Plastic apron/gown. The use of a plastic apron/gown is based on a risk assessment:
  • A long-sleeve gown is required if the patient contact is expected to be prolonged close physical contact, e.g., providing hygiene care, turning/positioning patients.
    • Remove gown at the conclusion of patient contact.
  • An apron is required if patient contact is expected to be minimal, e.g., IV insertion, standard room cleaning.
    • The apron only needs changing between patients if soiled.

The levels of PPE required in different working situations are outlined in our PPE Compulsory Standards.

To ensure you, our colleagues and our patients stay safe, please remember:

• Hand hygiene must be performed and gloves donned before patient contact.
• Gloves MUST be removed and hand hygiene performed after patient contact to prevent patient-to-patient transmission of pathogens.
• Gloves and aprons are only required for direct patient contact and are not required in shared clinical spaces such as nursing stations.
• Gloves and aprons may be disposed of in the non-clinical waste.
• Remember the five moments of hand hygiene. Before and after every time still applies.
• Please “spot” for each other as a reminder of our practices.

Andrew Stripp
Chief Executive