HOW RADIOLOGY CAN GET READY FOR CORONAVIRUS CRISIS
March 19, 2020 -- A panel of experts from six institutions has released a list of best practices for radiology preparedness during the coronavirus health crisis.
It was published on 16 March in the journal Radiology.
Artikulli nënvizon mundësitë për trajtimin e rasteve të reja me koronavirus dhe vendosjen e strategjive të departamentit të radiologjisë për të parandaluar virusin dhe për të mbrojtur stafin dhe pacientët në spital. Kontribuesit janë bordi editorial i revistës: Mahmud Mossa-Basha nga Universiteti i Uashingtonit në Seattle; Dr. Carolyn Meltzer nga Emory School of Medicine në Atlanta; Dr. Danny Kim nga NYU Langone Health në New York City; Dr Michael Tuite nga Universiteti i Wisconsin në Madison; Dr. Kanti Pallav Kolli nga Universiteti i Kalifornisë, San Francisko; dhe Dr. Bien Soo Tan nga Spitali i Përgjithshëm i Singaporit.
"Radiology preparedness during this outbreak requires radiology department policies and procedures designed to have enough capacity for continued operation during a healthcare emergency of unprecedented proportions and to support the care of patients with COVID-19," the team said in a statement released by the journal.
The group listed the following best practices:
- Limit exposure to the virus.
- Use screeners at all hospital entrances, as well as the radiology reception desk, to check for symptoms that could be related to the coronavirus.
- Put protocols in place for patients with known or suspected coronavirus to direct them appropriately to virtual urgent care, the emergency department, or radiology.
– Përcaktoni përdorimin më të mirë të imazherisë.
– Testet laboratorike diagnostike kanë një ndjeshmëri prej 95% në 97%, me kohë të shpejtë të kthimit, dhe duhet të përdoren së pari.
- Reserve imaging for suspected coronavirus cases for which it will affect patient management or for which an alternative diagnosis must be ruled out.
- Protect staff.
- Mask patients during imaging and procedures.
- Deep clean the scanner and room after imaging and allow for passive air exchange.
- Use appropriate precautions for patients who are undergoing aerosol-generating procedures.
Establish drive-through testing sites.
- Establish drive-through testing sites.
- Issue a moratorium on travel for all employees for one month.
- Maintain supply of N-95 masks and other personal protective equipment.
- Provide infection control tutorials, especially to CT, ultrasound, and interventional technologists.
- Maintain radiology department operations.
- Establish a coronavirus crisis management team that oversees the department's preparedness.
- Develop a plan for separate urgent care sites for treating coronavirus patients.
- Put social distancing measures into place: Allow staff to work from home, create isolated reading rooms onsite, and use video conferencing for meetings. Do not allow staff to rotate between facilities.
- Quarantine staff after travel to level 3 countries (those with widespread, ongoing transmission) or exposure to patients with suspected coronavirus.
- Create a plan to handle surge if the healthcare system is burdened by increased patient volume and imaging needs.
- Create a backup call schedule to cover for ill staff.
"The Editorial Board hopes that readers may find similarity of the highlighted healthcare systems to their own environment, providing impetus for action or confirmation of their current preparedness activities," concluded Radiology Editor-in-Chief Dr. David Bluemke.
English 
Albanian