Monday, March 30, 2020

Staff at Alexandra Hospital explain urgent need to adapt amid Covid-19

Source Website: https://www.tnp.sg/news/singapore/staff-alexandra-hospital-explain-urgent-need-adapt-amid-covid-19
By Kok Yufeng, The New Paper, 30 March 2020 at 06:00 am


The past two months have been a psychological test for some of the staff members of Alexandra Hospital (AH) as much as a physical one.
PHOTO: The past two months have been a psychological test for some of the staff members of Alexandra Hospital (AH) as much as a physical one.
(From left) Dr Keith Ho, head of Alexandra Hospital's urgent care centre; Ms K. Nitiah, assistant nurse clinician; Dr Louisa Sun, associate consultant of infectious diseases; and Ms Ooi Gaik Bee, senior nurse clinician.
PHOTO: ALEXANDRA HOSPITAL
Picture posted by Kok Yufeng, The New Paper on 30 March 2020 at 06:00 am
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2oMarcQJoYjxaYWUvzVQ7SftLs-vIcGaPmYGyWvty1soHjHMvBZEkR9eGoqzZecTFnskqwtW2YPtnrQfqju-jvdcFDyFLdwI_iNXIikZXZOA6PJwaN_wOmL95-gCW61dV9GLfMF6Lzw0/s1600/NP_20200330_YFAH30_5561379.jpg
https://www.tnp.sg/sites/default/files/styles/rl780/public/articles/2020/03/30/NP_20200330_YFAH30_5561379.jpg?itok=vv_F_zue
https://www.tnp.sg/news/singapore/staff-alexandra-hospital-explain-urgent-need-adapt-amid-covid-19


Staff members at Alexandra Hospital explain the urgent need to adapt since the first Covid-19 case

They have been in epidemic-fighting mode since the first Covid-19 case hit Singapore on Jan 23. They have had to set aside fears of infection and have not been able to let their guard down.

From doctors and nurses to housekeepers and facilities management, those entering isolation rooms need to don personal protective equipment (PPE), a process that involves much time and care.

Staff members working in extended screening areas, where patients with respiratory infections or fever of unknown causes are seen, have to endure even more heat stress as they need to put on additional layers of PPE.


They have been in epidemic-fighting mode since the first Covid-19 case hit Singapore on Jan 23.
PHOTO: They have been in epidemic-fighting mode since the first Covid-19 case hit Singapore on Jan 23. They have had to set aside fears of infection and have not been able to let their guard down.
Picture posted by Chris Aung-Thwin, Ottawacitizen on 28 March 2020
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsaipVctaMyDW24tkLBlnTRW-vjQCoRxQnaUfJA28gjZH2FtupcaBbMp-McBfkr8rXtVH5FYWxDZPKEs1emtrh2nXYG9zfwKv0muxAMbB7fnRVdgDcPUxUtgwAsTzJkPeRWhM6htad5Yw/s1600/covid-19-3.jpg
https://postmediaottawacitizen2.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/covid-19-3.jpg
https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/covid-19-by-this-time-next-week-cases-could-hit-16000-in-ottawa-if-we-dont-do-our-part/


With a new wave of imported cases driving infection numbers up, Dr Keith Ho, head of AH's urgent care centre (UCC), told The New Paper earlier this month that border controls have gone some way towards reassuring front-liners.

AH was already on alert when the first cluster of cases detected in Wuhan were reported at the start of the year, and it was told to open its two isolation wards once the first cases were confirmed here.

At the time, one of the wards was closed and the other was undergoing renovations.

But various teams worked overtime to commission 23 negative pressure rooms within a week. Meanwhile, teams were reshuffled and roles redefined.

Doctors, nurses and other employees not covering the isolation wards pulled extra duties to cover for those dealing with the outbreak, while support staff scaled up their services.


AH was already on alert when the first cluster of cases detected in Wuhan were reported at the start of the year, and it was told to open its two isolation wards once the first cases were confirmed here.
PHOTO: AH was already on alert when the first cluster of cases detected in Wuhan were reported at the start of the year, and it was told to open its two isolation wards once the first cases were confirmed here.
Picture posted by Alexandra Hospital (Facebook)
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE9KQDB_l9RESuPPsJks8zD3feA_zgJyOcusKQiQq1f34Dz9IJkQTfHcAvHoCtOCrQTF7n7Lm5FORaLg-6sFZQxqkwVYzW2epzXf0YKR7h6nIdqBlAYjtwbgKaMV4WKY7fbTIVfSiT7ik/s1600/90149858_659013614660939_4861020767019597824_o.jpg
https://scontent.fsin9-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/90149858_659013614660939_4861020767019597824_o.jpg?_nc_cat=100&_nc_sid=6e5ad9&_nc_ohc=ckO3bPuBeEEAX_96Xj9&_nc_ht=scontent.fsin9-2.fna&oh=7d0e0c31514b5023f6a743c7ae8498c8&oe=5EA69728
https://www.facebook.com/pg/AlexandraHospitalSG/posts/


Said Dr Ho: "Everyone was scrambling a bit because we were changing gears. It was not our daily work, but with time, we coalesced into a proper operating framework.

"We were all very apprehensive because this is a novel disease. We needed to be refreshed on the procedures. It is more stressful psychologically than physically."

He recalled a junior doctor who was worried after he did a swab on a patient who tested positive. AH made plans to get a hotel room for him so he could isolate himself from his family.


We were all very apprehensive because this is a novel disease.
PHOTO: "We were all very apprehensive because this is a novel disease. We needed to be refreshed on the procedures. It is more stressful psychologically than physically."
Picture posted by Alexandra Hospital (Facebook) on Sunday, 29 March 2020 at 09:17 PM
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https://scontent.fsin9-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t45.1600-4/cp0/q75/spS444/p552x414/90608938_6169922853525_5973520148265435136_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&_nc_sid=67cdda&_nc_ohc=0bjd2ksH-acAX9xbRKZ&_nc_ht=scontent.fsin9-1.fna&oh=3d3213df7ecca58289c5605835dd11bc&oe=5EA70661
https://www.facebook.com/pg/AlexandraHospitalSG/posts/


"We really felt there was a lot of support from the hospital in terms of the fight that we had on the front lines," said Dr Ho.

Dr Louisa Sun, associate consultant of infectious diseases, said hospital staff remain vigilant as changes have been rapid during the outbreak.


Dr Louisa Sun, associate consultant of infectious diseases, said hospital staff remain vigilant as changes have been rapid during the outbreak.
PHOTO: Dr Louisa Sun, associate consultant of infectious diseases, said hospital staff remain vigilant as changes have been rapid during the outbreak.
Picture posted by ayay.co.uk - Periwinkle - Wallpaper Image featuring Michael Whelan Fantasy Art 
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https://ayay.co.uk/backgrounds/fantasy_art/michael_whelan/periwinkle.jpg
http://ayay.co.uk/background/fantasy_art/michael_whelan/periwinkle/


"This has been a very massive job on our UCC colleagues' part. They're doing a very good job in keeping up with what are the true suspect cases," she said.

Ms K. Nitiah, an assistant nurse clinician at AH's UCC, said: "(It is about being) psychologically prepared to handle Covid-19 patients."

Senior nurse clinician Ooi Gaik Bee added: "Fear is something all of us experience."


Senior nurse clinician Ooi Gaik Bee added: 'Fear is something all of us experience.'
PHOTO: "We really felt there was a lot of support from the hospital in terms of the fight that we had on the front lines," said Dr Ho.
Picture posted by Jasmine Lim on Monday, 30 March 2020 at 09:10 AM
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https://www.facebook.com/AlexandraHospitalSG/posts/665388634023437?comment_id=665727047322929

By Kok Yufeng, The New Paper, 30 March 2020 at 06:00 am
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Reference
[1] Kok Yufeng, The New Paper, Staff at Alexandra Hospital explain urgent need to adapt amid Covid-19, posted on 30 March 2020 at 06:00 am, https://www.tnp.sg/news/singapore/staff-alexandra-hospital-explain-urgent-need-adapt-amid-covid-19


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