The COVID-19 risk communication package for healthcare facilities

The COVID-19 Risk Communication Package For Healthcare Facilities This package provides healthcare facility management and healthcare workers with an overview of the key actions required to keep safe and healthy in the workplace. Updated August 8, 2022 This toolkit is designed to be easily edited, printed and shared. The layout is suitable for any ISO-sized paper (A4, A3, A2). Images and text have been separated so the layout can be adjusted depending on the requirements. To print, export the files as PDF or PNG and send to the printer. For borderless printing, the image may be scaled to fit the printable area and trimmed along the edges. The COVID-19 Risk Communication Package For Healthcare Facilities Introduction The World Health Organization declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on 30 January 2020, and a pandemic on 11 March 2020. Responding to COVID-19 requires critical preparedness and sustained management of healthcare facilities which includes equipping healthcare workers (HCWs) and management staff with the information, procedures, and tools required to safely and effectively work. HCWs are playing a critical role in the COVID-19 outbreak response and are the backbone of a country’s defenses to limit or contain the spread of disease. On the frontlines, HCWs provide the necessary care for patients with suspected and confirmed COVID-19, often under challenging circumstances. They face higher risks of potential COVID-19 infection in their efforts to protect the greater community. They may be exposed to hazards such as psychological distress, fatigue, occupational burnout or stigma. WHO recognizes this essential work and the responsibility and importance of protecting the healthcare facility workforce. Purpose The purpose of this package is to protect HCWs from infection and prevent potential spread of COVID-19 within healthcare facilities. It contains a series of simplified messages and reminders based on WHO’s more in-depth technical guidance on infection prevention and control in healthcare facilities in the context of COVID-19: “WHO recommendations on mask use by health workers, in light of the Omicron variant of concern” (22 December 2021). WHO interim guidelines. “Infection prevention and control during health care when coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is suspected or confirmed” (12 July 2021). World Health Organization. Audience – Who the package is for This package is intended for HCWs and healthcare facility management and can be shared through networks of healthcare professionals and directly to healthcare facilities. The Ministry of Health in your country can send this package to all government hospitals and healthcare facilities. Copies of the package can be disseminated to networks of private practitioners, medical, nursing and midwives associations for peer to peer sharing and posting as appropriate. Materials can be adapted to local languages and placed in healthcare facilities where they are readily available as reminders for HCWs. WPR/DSE/2020/013 © World Health Organization 2020 Some rights reserved. This work is available under the CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO licence. Content - What the package contains The COVID-19 Risk Communication Package For Healthcare Facilities contains eight products: No. Format Product Title Primary Audience Use in 1 Poster Preparing for COVID-19 at your healthcare facility Healthcare facility management Share at staff trainings and meetings. Place in healthcare facility visible to all staff. 2 Poster Managing patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 at your healthcare facility Healthcare facility management Share at staff trainings and meetings. Place in healthcare facility visible to all staff. 3 Poster Protecting yourself at work from COVID-19 Healthcare workers Share at staff trainings and meetings. Place in healthcare facility visible to all staff (e.g. at the entrance/exit to the isolation ward). 4 Poster Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) According to Healthcare Activities Healthcare workers Share at staff trainings and meetings. Place in healthcare facility visible to all staff (e.g. at the entrance/exit to the isolation ward). 5 Flyer Communicating with patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 Healthcare workers Share at staff trainings and meetings. Place at the triage station and reception. 6 Flyer Information sheet about COVID-19 Healthcare facility patients and visitors Print and have readily available at the triage station and reception. 7 Poster Coping with stress All healthcare facility staff Share at staff trainings and meetings. Place in healthcare facility visible to all staff (e.g. in the kitchen or lunchroom). 8 Poster My 5 Moments of Hand Hygiene All healthcare facility staff Share at staff trainings and meetings. Place in healthcare facility visible to all staff (e.g. at the entrance/exit to the isolation ward). Preparing for COVID-19 at your healthcare facility Have a triage station at the healthcare facility entrance, prior to any waiting area, to screen patients for signs and symptoms of COVID-19. This limits potential infection throughout the health care center. Have alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water handwashing stations readily available for the use of healthcare workers, patients and visitors. Post information, like posters and flyers, that remind patients and visitors to practice good respiratory and hand hygiene. Be alert for anyone that may have symptoms such as cough, fever, shortness of breath, and difficulty breathing. Protect your workforce Be ready! Ensure your healthcare and triage workers: • Are trained on the importance, selection and proper use of personal protective equipment • Are trained to spot symptoms of COVID-19 infection and offer a medical mask to suspected cases • Know the case definition and have a decision flow diagram available and accessible for reference at the triage station • Isolate a suspected case promptly • Perform hand hygiene frequently • Do not work if symptomatic and follow guidance for safe return-to-work • Are encouraged to get vaccinated FOR: HEALTHCARE FACILITY MANAGEMENT Prepare a well- defined, well-ventilated or naturally well- ventilated area and separate waiting area for suspected cases. WHOWPRO WHOWPRO WHOWPRO Novel Coronavirus COVID-19 Managing patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 at your healthcare facility Novel Coronavirus COVID-19 • Limit the movement of patients within the health center to reduce potential infection throughout the healthcare facility • If a patient needs to be moved, plan the move ahead: all staff and visitors who come into direct contact with the patient should wear personal protective equipment and patient wears a medical mask • Perform regular environmental cleaning and disinfection • Maintain good ventilation – for example open doors, windows Staff should wear appropriate personal protective equipment when screening patients at the triage station. Provide medical masks to all patients presenting with flu-like symptoms or reporting possible COVID-19 infection. Remind all patients to use good respiratory and hand hygiene. WHOWPRO WHOWPRO WHOWPRO FOR: HEALTHCARE FACILITY MANAGEMENT Managing Placement Managing the Environment Managing Visitors • Immediately isolate suspected and confirmed cases • To reduce stress and anxiety, explain the duration of isolation to patients, what you do and why you do it • If possible, place patients in single rooms • Suspected and confirmed cases should be kept separate • Maintain at least 1-metre distance between all patients and between beds • Do not put more than one patient in a single hospital bed • Limit the number of visitors per patient • All visitors should wear the required personal protective equipment and their visits should be recorded • Provide alcohol-based hand rub, and ensure it is easily accessible by the healthcare workers, visitors Follow the guidance of your healthcare facility management and talk to your colleagues about agreed COVID-19 safety procedures When entering a room with a suspected or confirmed COVID-19 patient, put on: • disposable gloves • a clean, long-sleeve gown • medical mask or respirator that covers your mouth and nose • eye protection such as goggles If performing an aerosol- generating procedure, such as intubation, use a particulate respirator such as an N95 – do a seal check! Don’t touch your eyes, nose or mouth with gloves or bare hands until proper hand hygiene has been performed If you start coughing, sneezing or develop fever after you have provided care, report your illness immediately to the concerned authority and follow their advice My 5 Moments for Hand Hygiene Use alcohol-based hand rub or wash hands with soap and water: 1. Before touching a patient 2. Before engaging in clean/aseptic procedures 3. After body fluid exposure risk 4. After touching a patient 5. After touching patient surroundings Remember Personal protective equipment should be changed between use and for each different patient. If utilizing single-use personal protective equipment (e.g. single-use masks, gloves, face shields) dispose in a waste bin with a lid and wash your hands thoroughly. Anything single-use cannot be reused or sterilized! Boots, hair cover, and coverall suits are not required Remember FOR: HEALTHCARE WORKERS WHOWPRO WHOWPRO WHOWPRO Protecting yourself at work from COVID-19 Novel Coronavirus COVID-19 FOR HEALTHCARE WORKERS WHOWPRO WHOWPRO WHOWPRO Novel Coronavirus COVID-19 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) According to Healthcare Activities Triage/points of entry screening personnel Collecting respiratory specimens goggles OR face shield medical mask OR respirator gown gloves Caring for a suspected/confirmed case of COVID-19 with NO aerosol-generating procedure goggles OR face shield gown gloves medical mask OR respirator Caring for a suspected/confirmed case of COVID-19 WITH aerosol-generating procedure goggles OR face shield Respirator (N95 or FFP2) gown gloves Transport of suspected/ confirmed case of COVID-19, including direct care goggles OR face shield medical mask OR respirator gown gloves Remember Hand hygiene is always important. Clean hands before putting on, and after taking off, PPE. medical mask goggles OR face shield (when physical distance of at least 1 m is not feasible) Communicating with patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 FOR: HEALTHCARE WORKERS WHOWPRO WHOWPRO WHOWPRO ▪ Be respectful, polite and empathetic ▪ Be aware that suspected and confirmed cases, and any visitors accompanying them, may be stressed or afraid ▪ The most important thing you can do is to listen carefully to questions and concerns ▪ Use local language and speak slowly ▪ Answer any questions and provide correct information about COVID-19 ▪ You may not have an answer for every question: a lot is still unknown about COVID- 19 and it is okay to admit that ▪ If available, share information pamphlets or handouts with your patients ▪ It is okay to touch, or comfort suspected and confirmed patients when wearing PPE ▪ Gather accurate information from the patient: their name, date of birth, travel history, list of symptoms… ▪ Explain the healthcare facility’s procedure for COVID-19, such as isolation and limited visitors, and the next steps ▪ If the patient is a child, admit a family member or guardian to accompany them – the guardian should be provided and use appropriate personal protective equipment ▪ Provide updates to visitors and family when possible Novel Coronavirus COVID-19 1m FOR HEALTHCARE FACILITY PATIENTS AND VISITORS Things to Know What is COVID-19? COVID-19 is a disease caused by a new coronavirus, which has not been previously identified in humans. Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses found in both animals and humans. What are the symptoms of COVID-19? In most cases, COVID-19 causes mild symptoms including a runny nose, sore throat, cough and fever. It can be more severe for some people and can lead to pneumonia or breathing difficulties. In some cases, infection can lead to death. How does COVID-19 spread? COVID-19 appears to spread most easily through close contact with an infected person. When someone who has COVID-19 coughs or sneezes, small droplets are released and, if you are too close, you can breathe in the virus. Finally, COVID-19 may spread through touching of eyes, nose, or mouth with contaminated hands. Who is most at risk? People aged 60 years and over, those with underlying medical problems like high blood pressure, heart and lung problems, diabetes, obesity, cancer, or HIV infection, and those who are unvaccinated against COVID-19 are at higher risk of developing serious disease. How do we treat COVID-19 patients? Standard care for COVID-19 patients who developed pneumonia includes oxygen and systemic corticosteroid. There are some therapeutics for COVID-19 which might be used by doctors depending on symptoms and underlying medical problems. Talk to your doctor for advice about your care. Things to Do Wash your hands frequently. Wash your hands with soap and water and dry them properly or, if your hands are not visibly dirty, use an alcohol-based hand rub. This will remove the virus if it is on your hands. Cover your mouth and nose with a flexed elbow or tissue when coughing and sneezing. Throw away the used tissue immediately and wash your hands with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand rub. This way you protect others from any virus released through coughs and sneezes. If possible, keep a distance of at least 1- metre between yourself and someone who is coughing, sneezing or has a fever. COVID-19 appears to spread most easily through close contact with an infected person. If you have fever, cough AND difficulty breathing, seek medical care. Phone ahead and inform the health center when you will visit. Always follow the guidance of your health care professional or national health advisories. Get vaccinated against COVID-19 Get all of your recommended doses of COVID-19 vaccine as soon as you can. Vaccination reduces your risk of getting seriously ill or dying. WHOWPRO WHOWPRO WHOWPRO Novel Coronavirus COVID-19 Information sheet about COVID-19 Coping with stress It is normal to feel sad, stressed, or overwhelmed during a crisis Talk to people you trust or a counsellor Don’t use alcohol, smoking or other drugs to deal with your emotions Maintain a healthy lifestyle: proper diet, sleep, exercise and social contacts with friends and family If you have concerns, talk with your supervisor, and if you start feeling unwell tell your doctor immediately FOR HEALTHCARE FACILITY STAFF WHOWPRO WHOWPRO WHOWPRO Novel Coronavirus COVID-19 My 5 Moments for Hand Hygiene FOR: HEALTHCARE FACILITY STAFF My 5 Moments for Hand Hygiene WHOWPRO WHOWPRO WHOWPRO Use alcohol-based hand rub or wash hands with soap and water Before touching a patient Before engaging in clean/aseptic procedures After body fluid exposure risk After touching patient surroundings After touching a patient 1 2 43 5 Novel Coronavirus COVID-19