Responding to the COVID-19 pandemic: The role of occupational health services in a tertiary hospital in Singapore

J Occup Health. 2020 Jan;62(1):e12172. doi: 10.1002/1348-9585.12172.

Abstract

With coronavirus disease 2019 declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on 30 January 2020, occupational health services in a tertiary hospital in Singapore stepped up via a three-pronged approach, namely, protection of individual staff, protection of staff workforce, and prevention of nosocomial spread so as to support business continuity plans. Despite the multiple new challenges brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, the hospital's occupational health services were able to adapt and keep all employees and patients safe with strong support from senior management and close collaboration with various departments.

Keywords: COVID-19; business continuity plan; hospital; infection control; occupational health.

MeSH terms

  • Betacoronavirus
  • COVID-19
  • Coronavirus Infections / epidemiology
  • Coronavirus Infections / prevention & control*
  • Coronavirus Infections / transmission
  • Cross Infection / prevention & control*
  • Cross Infection / virology
  • Humans
  • Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional / prevention & control*
  • Occupational Health Services / methods*
  • Pandemics / prevention & control*
  • Pneumonia, Viral / epidemiology
  • Pneumonia, Viral / prevention & control*
  • Pneumonia, Viral / transmission
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Singapore / epidemiology
  • Tertiary Care Centers / organization & administration*