Hospitals focus on safety as they prepare for the 'new normal'
Emergency rooms in hospitals across the country are preparing for the "new normal" amid the Covid-19 crisis, be it in providing protective gear for nurses or social distancing areas for patients, Dr Chaloempon Chairat, the 10th Health Region director, said on Saturday (May 23).
The doctor explained that emergency rooms are now providing effective gears to nurses screening sick people, since they are at the first stage to risk Covid-19 infection.
Virus barriers have been set up in hospitals as well as social distancing areas. There are markings on the floor for patients to know the distance they should keep from others, he added.
Meanwhile, the safety levels in ambulances and that of their officers have been improved to prevent Covid-19 risk to both staff and patients. Each time the officers will wear airborne precautions, he explained.
For emergency cases which need cardiopulmonary resuscitation and respirator use, operations will be conducted in negative pressure rooms, with the least number of medical personnel required. The personnel will wear protective gears like those worn by staff moving patient beds from emergency rooms to others.
Importantly, the human density limit in the emergency rooms has been reduced, he added.
