Changes

Special care was taken to ensure that the actions triggered were supported from both a human and a technical perspective. With regard to the former, the high level of professionalism of all health and non-health workers at hospital shall be highlighted: doctors, nurses, laboratory technicians, cleaning staff, technicians who control ventilation circuits and many other professionals worked double shifts, overtime, etc. Protective measures were increased at hospital. All possible scenarios as well as the protective equipment to be worn were defined. Special attention was paid to staff protection training. The so-called Extended Universal Precautions were extended to the entire hospital in order to protect other patients and hospital employees. The workflow was modified and professionals who had never worked together before started to form multidisciplinary teams: neurologists, allergists, haematologists, anaesthesiologists, etc. started to work side by side with internists and intensivists.

From a technical point of view, decisions were made based on new data received. The health system was not prepared for a phenomenon of such magnitude and so long-lasting. Nevertheless, efforts were multiplied to adapt the hospital structure, equipment and organisation. A new intensive care unit was built in record time. The surgical block was adapted to accommodate COVID-19 patients and non-COVID-19 patients, the inpatient area was reorganised with exclusive areas for COVID-19 patients, a separate circuit was set up in the emergency department for possible infected patients, etc.

{{ANEAutoria|Autores= María José Amorín Calzada}}

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