Assess, adapt and act: a paediatric surgery division’s initial approach in a rapidly evolving pandemic
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Read the article on link.springer.com ↗Article · Jun 2020 · 1 min read
In brief
In brief
A pediatric surgery division in a developing country successfully adapted service delivery during COVID-19 through surgery stratification, multidisciplinary policy development, workforce redeployment, and modified training programs. Despite limited initial guidelines, their adaptive strategies aligned with international surgical centers and maintained essential pediatric surgical services with minimal disruption.
Written by the GCMD Library team from the article.
Abstract
Purpose
The COVID-19 pandemic has placed an unprecedented test on the delivery and management of healthcare services globally. This study describes the adaptive measures taken and evolving roles of the members of the paediatric surgery division in a developing country during this period.
Methods
We adopted multiple adaptive strategies including changes to stratification of surgeries, out-patient services by urgency and hospital alert status, policy writing involving multidisciplinary teams, and redeployment of manpower. Modifications were made to teaching activities and skills training to observe social distancing and mitigate reduced operative learning opportunities. Roles of academic staff were expanded to include non-surgical duties.
Results
The planned strategies and changes to pre COVID-19 practices were successful in ensuring minimal disruption to the delivery of essential paediatric surgical services and training. Despite the lack of established guidelines and literature outlining strategies to address the impact of this pandemic on surgical services, most of the initial measures employed were consistent with that of other surgical centres.
Conclusion
Changes to delivery of surgical services and surgical training warrant a holistic approach and a constant re-evaluation of practices with emergence of new experiences and guidelines.