ABSTRACT

Background & Objectives: The outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic during the month of March 2020, led to the increased load of cases in India. In order to handle the case load of COVID-19 patients it was decided to designate separate hospitals for the same. This was done by redesigning of the existing healthcare facility into a designated COVID hospital.

Methods: In order to ensure infection control in the healthcare facility, key aspects were identified to be addressed like Zoning, Donning & Doffing areas, Air Quality Human resource management and Process modification with Standard Operative Procedures (SOP).

Results: The entire facility was segregated into two different zones i.e. Red zone and Green Zone. To ensure optimum air quality, negative pressure was ensured in the inpatient areas along with fresh air. For protection of Health Care Workers (HCW) donning and doffing areas were designed at appropriate areas and they were assisted and supervised during both the processes by HICN (Hospital Infection Control Nurse). Human resource management was planned by staff pooling and redistribution from various non-COVID areas, to ensure availability of adequate staff in the COVID centre. SOPs and flow charts were made for each and every process in consultation with all the stakeholders.

Interpretation & Conclusions: The facility started accepting COVID patients from 3rd April, 2020 and currently has 265 beds, which include 50 ICU beds and 215 ward beds. It has treated 1562 patients by 15th September, 2020. Over the period of fifteen months nearly 1000 HCPs have worked in the facility. Out of these, 1.3% of the HCPs have tested positive for COVID-19 and the hospital environment was not identified as the source of infection for them by the contact tracing team.

Key words: Re-designing, COVID hospital, Infection control, Human resource management, Air Conditioning, Zoning, Donning area and Doffing area.