Operational Effect of COVID‐19 on Surgical Care at a Tertiary Pediatric Hospital. (27th January 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ferry, Andrew M.; Dibbs, Rami P.; Ward, Amanda; Velez, Veronica; Ringold, Sarah L.; Archer, Nakeisha M.; Winebar, Janet M.; Andropoulos, Dean B.; Hollier Jr, Larry H.
• Is Part Of: AORN journal. Volume 115:Number 2(2022)
• Page Start: 147
• Page End: 155
• Publication Date: 2022-01-27
• Subjects: coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) -- surgical volume -- staffing -- nonurgent procedures -- block scheduling; Operating room nursing -- Periodicals; Soins infirmiers en salle d'opération -- Périodiques; Nursing -- Periodicals; Operating Room Nursing -- Periodicals; Perioperative Nursing -- Periodicals; Societies, Nursing -- Periodicals; 617.917
• DOI: 10.1002/aorn.13604
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0001-2092

Abstract

ABSTRACT: The detrimental effects of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic have profoundly disrupted surgical care at health care facilities worldwide. At our tertiary pediatric hospital, we made substantial adjustments to surgical suite utilization and staff member scheduling to account for reductions in surgical volume, increased demand for staff members in other sectors of the hospital, and the highly infectious properties of the virus. Perioperative leaders took advantage of the pandemic's disruption to clinical activities to design and implement a new procedure‐scheduling process to rectify the inefficiencies that had accumulated as the previous system evolved. The implementation of said directives was largely facilitated by establishing communication with all involved parties for their input and feedback throughout the process. Although COVID‐19 has had varying effects on procedural operations across pediatric health care facilities, we believe our institutional response to the disruptive forces of COVID‐19 is of benefit to pediatric hospitals worldwide.