New Covid modelling from the University of Adelaide suggests that there will likely be a BA.5 Omicron subvariant peak in mid-July. In the midst of the spread of COVID-19, however, the deadly flu season must not be forgotten.
What does the new outbreak mean for your organisation?
The combination of COVID-19 cases, flu cases and the usual winter ills is not so simple to deal with.
How should your organisation respond to the new outbreak?
Knowing how to deal with this new winter wave can go a long way. Healthcare institutions can take the following steps:
- Don’t let your guard down
- Continue to support your staff
- Encourage your patients to only visit for emergencies
Don’t let your guard down
The World Health Organisation’s (WHO) Covid-19 Emergency Committee has stated that the pandemic remains a public health emergency of international concern. As such, we should continue to stay alert and adapt quickly when required.
Healthcare institutions such as hospitals and aged care facilities must stay on top of disinfecting and cleaning. Having a strong infection control program is especially important in facilities with elderly and ill patients.
Although there are existing visitation regulations in place which limit exposure, maintaining hygiene and cleanliness should still be a priority. Family members entrust the care of their loved ones to reliable healthcare facilities where they expect proper safety procedures. This means continuing to be compliant to the list of healthcare regulations and aged care regulations.
Tired of keeping up with the complexities of the ever-changing regulations? Zipline’s compliance management system will simplify all that for you. Additionally, keeping track of your visitors for contact tracing can be taken care of by a visitor management system.
Continue to support your staff
Aged care workers and hospital staff are at their limits and will continue to be pushed beyond them. In Australia, international recruitment has been a strategy regularly utilised to alleviate staff challenges. However, this solution is failing to keep up with the significant surge in demand.
As healthcare institutions, this is a crucial time to show unconditional support for healthcare workers. Some examples of supporting your staff include:
- Organising outreach groups
- Care packages
- Offer flexibility
Ensuring that healthcare workers are supported throughout a new breakout will empower them to handle an increased workload.
Encourage patients to only visit for emergencies
It is very important for hospitals to encourage patients to only come in for emergencies. Individuals who are not suffering from life-threatening conditions should refrain from calling the ambulance service. This ensures patients truly requiring emergency medical care will receive it in a timely manner.
With the new breakout in full force, filtering out the non-essential medical cases will relieve some pressure on the healthcare system.
Final words
With travel restrictions easing up, influenza cases are on the rise. As we progress further into this Covid-19 and influenza season, it is increasingly important for people to protect themselves. Healthcare institutions must stay alert and be ready to respond when things take a turn for the worse.
