Page 12 - Care-for-vulnerable-populations-during-COVID-19-pandemic

1. REDUCE CROWDING IN CLINIC

To minimize crowding and reduce the possibility of cross-infection, an analysis of the number of
staff and patients being in the same area, has to be done. So based on the analysis, rearrangement
of staff has to be done and necessary changes to the work process should be looked into. At the
moment, although we have a staggered appointment system in place, many patients do not
adhere to it, for many reasons. So this is the time and opportunity for them to emphasize and re-
emphasize the importance of adhering to the given time and date of appointment. From earlier
this year, an online appointment system has been launched (but not for all clinics). It was piloted
in Putrajaya, where my clinic is also involved, where patients can actually choose when they
prefer to come to the clinic (the date and the time). By having this, there would be a control on
the number of patients coming to our clinic as well as control on the number of patients waiting
in our clinic area. So, social distancing can be practised effectively within our clinics.

Primary triaging at the point of entry is being carried out and navigation of patients will be
done effectively. At the moment, plan and discussion has been in place to lengthen the
operational hours of our clinics and to go on shift duties.

(As mentioned in earlier slides) typically, we work from 8am to 5pm, and some clinics have
extended hours in which they work until 10pm and also half day during the weekend. So now
there are plans and discussion for lengthening of operational hours and shift duties. So, all in all,
there will be a limit to the number of patients and it will be easier for a one-to-one consultation
with no sharing of rooms. Hence, a better infection control process. The plan is for clinics to
operate from 8 to 10 pm with two shifts, but closed on weekends.
Primary Triaging (Photo)

This is an example of primary triaging where patients come in and will be triaged by our
nurses and also doctors, and they will be navigated to where they are supposed to go to.
Waiting Area (Photos)

This is an example of the waiting area. We practice physical distancing to reduce the
possibility of cross-infection.