LA TRINIDAD, Benguet, Septe.6(PIA) - - In preparation for the transition to the so called new normal living with the existence of COVID-19, the provincial government plans to localize strategies to be adopted and carried out.
The plan will be based on the interim guidelines set by the Department of Health in hospitals and other health facilities as tackled in the Provincial Inter-Agency Task Force for COVID-19 held recently.
Committee Chair on Health Board Member Florencio Bentrez suggested the crafting of a localized operations plan for the “new normal” which could be institutionalized through an ordinance. This would be for adoption by the PIATF and for implementation even beyond the Bayanihan Act 2.
The PIATF together with Provincial Health Office, Benguet General Hospital, and the Police Provincial Office are tasked to come up with operational plan that would strengthen health facilities and the frontliners.
The idea of coming up with a localized operations plan stemmed from the presentation by Development Management Officer V Dr. Mercedes Calpito of the DOH interim guidelines in the transitioning to the “new normal” which may apply not only in health facilities but to non-health facilities as well when appropriate.
The purpose is for the health facilities to be guided from the community level until the hospital level or the health care provider network.
Among the general guide in crafting operational plan include how to increase physical and mental resilience and reduction of transmission, illness, and contact; being part of the health care provider network; institutionalization of infection prevention measures while orienting and training health workers on infection prevention control; workforce support; mental health and psychosocial services for clients and frontliners, and capacity assessment in transitioning to new normal as to the readiness of the health facility towards the “new normal.”
There are also interventions that need to be followed for the health care provider network, patient, health care worker, and infrastructure and maintenance.
In the new normal, telehealth or telemedicine is one approach that will be adopted to avoid face-to-face contact, according to Calpito. Consultations may be through SMS or text messaging, calls or online platforms except for those with serious concerns.
Telepharmacy such as medication and counselling is also another approach which is now in place at the BeGH.
For patients, there should be established standard and mandatory safety measures such as physical distancing, wearing of face masks, body temperature screening prior to entry, safety precautions for vulnerable persons, restricting visitors for suspect, probable or confirmed COVID-19 patients, limiting companions in outpatient clinics, emergency rooms and admission to private wards. (JDP/SCA-PIA-CAR, Benguet)
Source: Philippines Information Agency (pia.gov.ph)
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