Sustaining Otolaryngology Services for the Long Haul during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Experience from a Tertiary Health System

Joshua K Tay; Wei Sian Lim; Woei Shyang Loh; Kwok Seng Loh

doi:10.1177/0194599820922983

Sustaining Otolaryngology Services for the Long Haul during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Experience from a Tertiary Health System

Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2020 Jul;163(1):47-50. doi: 10.1177/0194599820922983. Epub 2020 May 5.

Authors

Joshua K Tay^{1

2}, Wei Sian Lim¹, Woei Shyang Loh^{1

2}, Kwok Seng Loh^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, National University Health System, Singapore.
² Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, National University of Singapore, Singapore.

PMID: 32366174
DOI: 10.1177/0194599820922983

Abstract

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has been far-reaching and has profoundly affected the practice of otolaryngology in an unprecedented way. In this commentary, we draw from our experience in the first 90 days of the pandemic and discuss a set of workflow measures, personal protection equipment protocols, and strategic goals that can provide a safe environment for patients and staff to continue managing a significant proportion of patients in the otolaryngology service during the pandemic.

Keywords: COVID-19; business continuity; clinical services; pandemic preparedness.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Betacoronavirus
COVID-19
Coronavirus Infections / complications
Coronavirus Infections / epidemiology*
Coronavirus Infections / transmission
Disease Management*
Disease Transmission, Infectious / prevention & control*
Humans
Otolaryngology / organization & administration*
Otorhinolaryngologic Diseases / complications*
Otorhinolaryngologic Diseases / therapy
Pandemics*
Pneumonia, Viral / complications
Pneumonia, Viral / epidemiology*
Pneumonia, Viral / transmission
SARS-CoV-2
Tertiary Care Centers*