Hospital Preparedness and Protection Plans in COVID-۱۹ Pandemic

The COVID-۱۹ pandemic has challenged the Iranian health system. However, health system sectors must perform full protective protocols properly not only to protect hospital staff but also for patient safety during the COVID-۱۹ pandemic.Milad hospital is the largest Social Security Organization’s hospital complex located in Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran. This hospital had a successful experience in managing and controlling patients suffering from COVID-۱۹ and protecting its staff under the pressure of COVID-۱۹ pandemic condition that could be useful in the unpredictable crisis and limitations of the equipment.A set of plans has been utilized to control the crises which are summarized below:• All non-emergent patient flows were postponed• Milad hospital has ۹۷۵ active beds, more than ۱۰% of the beds are critical care beds in normal states; however, since the COVID-۱۹ outbreak, all ۹۷۵ active beds were equipped to take care of COVID-۱۹ patients. Except for emergency operations.• Standard protection and distancing protocols were strictly followed; including personal protectiveequipment (PPE)• Staff PPE’s were defined based on the protocol of all health care workers in COVID-۱۹ wards and other wards, including but not limited to ICU staff, CT Scan staff, ambulance drivers, and nurse assistants in charge of patient’s transferring, emergency department staff, etc.• Full protection consisted of N۹۵ or FFP۲/۳masks, medical masks, all body gown, gloves, eye protection (goggles or face shield), and other itemsWe could achieve the lowest number of COVID-۱۹ contaminated staff and full readiness to treat COVID-۱۹ patients in Milad hospital all over the country with strict adherence to these guidelines (۱, ۲).

Keywords:

COVID-۱۹ Pandemic