A Study on the Awareness and Preparedness of HealthFacilities in India to provide Clinical Care during theCOVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Background The acute spread of COVID-19 calls for preparedness and setting up of adequately equipped and dedicated health facilities to manage COVID-19 patients while at the same time protecting healthcare workers too. Coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic as global public health emergency. Objective The objective of this study is to evaluate the awareness among health workers and the preparedness of health facilities through interviews among healthcare workers. The study also aims to understand and highlight the responsibility pf protecting healthcare workers.Methodology A structured interview schedule was offered to healthcare professionals through e-mail solicitation. Among the 50 healthcare professionals contacted 35 of them consented to participate in the survey with a response rate of 0.7.Results Infrastructure and availability of protective consumables prevent many hospitals from having the bandwidth to immediately convert wards into isolation wards. Healthcare facilities are reportedly are in short supply of equipment and healthcare professionals are working less-equipped have not received adequate training and there is general lack of clinical awareness in these hospitals. There is a lack of training on protective protocols for healthcare workers. The highly transmissible nature of COVID-19 necessitates a practical management of human resources in health.Conclusion Clear practical and uniform guidelines are essential for the healthcare system to provide patients with necessary clinical care while ensuring that the both patients and healthcare workers are protected. In the scenario where sufficient personal protective equipment PPE and necessary gear may not be available in healthcare facilities it is important that healthcare workers are aware of the risk of being infected and know how to minimize their risk.