Experience from a Multi-Disciplinary Team against COVID-19: A Healthcare Perspective

Alvin Cong Wei Ong, Clarice Li-Phing Wee, Wei Lin Lee, Lee Gan Goh and Ghee Hian Lim
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Alvin Cong Wei Ong: Department of Post-Acute and Continuing Care, Jurong Community Hospital, National University Health System, Singapore 609606, Singapore
Clarice Li-Phing Wee: Ng Teng Fong General Hospital, National University Health System, Singapore 609606, Singapore
Wei Lin Lee: Ng Teng Fong General Hospital, National University Health System, Singapore 609606, Singapore
Lee Gan Goh: Department of Family Medicine, National University Health System, Singapore 119228, Singapore
Ghee Hian Lim: Ng Teng Fong General Hospital, National University Health System, Singapore 609606, Singapore

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 4, 1-19

Abstract: Globally, the capacity of healthcare systems across continents has been strained and put to the test with the emergence of the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The timely need to ensure the availability of healthcare facilities to isolate and manage the surge in COVID-19 cases without overwhelming existing hospital capacity has posed challenges in many countries. In this paper, we discuss the conceptualisation, preparations and operationalisation of a community healthcare facility that was set up within a short time frame to attend to the convalescent needs of a large number of COVID-19 patients in the early phase of handling the pandemic. In the first month of operations, we monitored a total of 2129 clinical encounters, with the majority of patients between 17–35 years of age and between day 2 to day 6 of illness upon admission. Overall, there was a good outcome for the patients, with only 2.3% requiring transfer back to restructured hospitals. There was also no mortality. We hope that the sharing of our experiences of the challenges and learning lessons gleaned may be useful to guide individuals in planning for the future preparedness of healthcare systems in managing pandemics.

Keywords: coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19); severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2); community care facilities; isolation facilities; primary care; pandemic medicine (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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