Ensuring Business Continuity of Musculoskeletal Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Abstract:. On February 8, 2020, Singapore raised its Disease Outbreak Response System Condition (DORSCON) level to Orange, indicating that coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) was a severe disease with high human transmissibility. Using lessons learned from the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) outbre...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wolters Kluwer
2020-06-01
|
| Series: | JBJS Open Access |
| Online Access: | http://journals.lww.com/jbjsoa/fulltext/10.2106/JBJS.OA.20.00050 |
| _version_ | 1818558195767967744 |
|---|---|
| author | Ming Han Lincoln Liow, MBBS, DWD(CAW), MRCSEd, MMed(Ortho), FRCSEd(Orth), FAMS Kenny Xian Khing Tay, MBBS, MRCSEd, MMed(Ortho), FRCSEd(Orth) Nicholas Eng Meng Yeo, MBBS, MRCSEd, MMed(Ortho), FRCSEd(Orth), FAMS Darren Keng Jin Tay, MBBS, MRCSEd, MMed(Ortho), FRCSEd(Orth) Seo Kiat Goh, MA, MBBChir(Cantab), MRCSEd, MMed(Ortho), FRCSEd(Orth), FAMS Joyce Suang Bee Koh, MBBS, FRCS(Ed), FRCSEd(Orth), FAMS Tet Sen Howe, MBBS, FRCS(Ed), FRCS(G), FRCS(Eng), FAMS Andrew Hwee Chye Tan, MBBS, FRCS(G), FRCSEd(Orth) |
| author_facet | Ming Han Lincoln Liow, MBBS, DWD(CAW), MRCSEd, MMed(Ortho), FRCSEd(Orth), FAMS Kenny Xian Khing Tay, MBBS, MRCSEd, MMed(Ortho), FRCSEd(Orth) Nicholas Eng Meng Yeo, MBBS, MRCSEd, MMed(Ortho), FRCSEd(Orth), FAMS Darren Keng Jin Tay, MBBS, MRCSEd, MMed(Ortho), FRCSEd(Orth) Seo Kiat Goh, MA, MBBChir(Cantab), MRCSEd, MMed(Ortho), FRCSEd(Orth), FAMS Joyce Suang Bee Koh, MBBS, FRCS(Ed), FRCSEd(Orth), FAMS Tet Sen Howe, MBBS, FRCS(Ed), FRCS(G), FRCS(Eng), FAMS Andrew Hwee Chye Tan, MBBS, FRCS(G), FRCSEd(Orth) |
| author_sort | Ming Han Lincoln Liow, MBBS, DWD(CAW), MRCSEd, MMed(Ortho), FRCSEd(Orth), FAMS |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract:. On February 8, 2020, Singapore raised its Disease Outbreak Response System Condition (DORSCON) level to Orange, indicating that coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) was a severe disease with high human transmissibility. Using lessons learned from the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) outbreak in 2003, the orthopaedic surgery department at Singapore General Hospital, a tertiary-level referral center, was prepared to handle this pandemic through business-continuity planning. The business that we are referring to is the “business” of orthopaedic surgery, encompassing clinical care, education, research, and administration. There is a lack of literature detailing business-continuity plans of surgical departments during pandemics, with new guidelines being developed. A large proportion of orthopaedic work, such as cases of fracture and infection, cannot be postponed. Even elective surgeries cannot be postponed indefinitely as it could result in detriment to the quality of life of patients. The aim of this article is to detail the business-continuity plans at our institution that allowed the delivery of essential musculoskeletal care through personnel segregation measures during the COVID-19 pandemic. Strategies to ensure the provision of timely medical intelligence, the reduction of nonessential ambulatory visits and surgical procedures, ensuring the safety and morale of staff, and continuing education and research efforts were paramount. As the COVID-19 pandemic unfolds, our posture needs to constantly evolve to meet new challenges that may come our way. Our existing business-continuity plan is not perfect and may not be applicable to smaller hospitals. There is conflict between envisioned normalcy, remaining economically viable as an orthopaedic department, and fulfilling training requirements, and educating the next generation of orthopaedic surgeons on the one hand and the need for segregation, workload reduction, virtual education, and social distancing on the other. Orthopaedic surgeons need to strike a balance between business continuity and adopting sustainable precautions against COVID-19. We hope that our experience will aid other orthopaedic surgery departments in adapting to this new norm, protecting their staff and patients, managing staff morale, and allowing the continuation of musculoskeletal care during the COVID-19 pandemic. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T00:09:32Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d752d7ea6ff442c288d032a4fc87e482 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2472-7245 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T00:09:32Z |
| publishDate | 2020-06-01 |
| publisher | Wolters Kluwer |
| record_format | Article |
| series | JBJS Open Access |
| spelling | doaj.art-d752d7ea6ff442c288d032a4fc87e4822022-12-21T23:25:49ZengWolters KluwerJBJS Open Access2472-72452020-06-0152e0050e005010.2106/JBJS.OA.20.00050JBJSOA2000050Ensuring Business Continuity of Musculoskeletal Care During the COVID-19 PandemicMing Han Lincoln Liow, MBBS, DWD(CAW), MRCSEd, MMed(Ortho), FRCSEd(Orth), FAMS0Kenny Xian Khing Tay, MBBS, MRCSEd, MMed(Ortho), FRCSEd(Orth)1Nicholas Eng Meng Yeo, MBBS, MRCSEd, MMed(Ortho), FRCSEd(Orth), FAMS2Darren Keng Jin Tay, MBBS, MRCSEd, MMed(Ortho), FRCSEd(Orth)3Seo Kiat Goh, MA, MBBChir(Cantab), MRCSEd, MMed(Ortho), FRCSEd(Orth), FAMS4Joyce Suang Bee Koh, MBBS, FRCS(Ed), FRCSEd(Orth), FAMS5Tet Sen Howe, MBBS, FRCS(Ed), FRCS(G), FRCS(Eng), FAMS6Andrew Hwee Chye Tan, MBBS, FRCS(G), FRCSEd(Orth)71 Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore1 Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore1 Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore1 Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore1 Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore1 Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore1 Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore1 Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Singapore General Hospital, SingaporeAbstract:. On February 8, 2020, Singapore raised its Disease Outbreak Response System Condition (DORSCON) level to Orange, indicating that coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) was a severe disease with high human transmissibility. Using lessons learned from the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) outbreak in 2003, the orthopaedic surgery department at Singapore General Hospital, a tertiary-level referral center, was prepared to handle this pandemic through business-continuity planning. The business that we are referring to is the “business” of orthopaedic surgery, encompassing clinical care, education, research, and administration. There is a lack of literature detailing business-continuity plans of surgical departments during pandemics, with new guidelines being developed. A large proportion of orthopaedic work, such as cases of fracture and infection, cannot be postponed. Even elective surgeries cannot be postponed indefinitely as it could result in detriment to the quality of life of patients. The aim of this article is to detail the business-continuity plans at our institution that allowed the delivery of essential musculoskeletal care through personnel segregation measures during the COVID-19 pandemic. Strategies to ensure the provision of timely medical intelligence, the reduction of nonessential ambulatory visits and surgical procedures, ensuring the safety and morale of staff, and continuing education and research efforts were paramount. As the COVID-19 pandemic unfolds, our posture needs to constantly evolve to meet new challenges that may come our way. Our existing business-continuity plan is not perfect and may not be applicable to smaller hospitals. There is conflict between envisioned normalcy, remaining economically viable as an orthopaedic department, and fulfilling training requirements, and educating the next generation of orthopaedic surgeons on the one hand and the need for segregation, workload reduction, virtual education, and social distancing on the other. Orthopaedic surgeons need to strike a balance between business continuity and adopting sustainable precautions against COVID-19. We hope that our experience will aid other orthopaedic surgery departments in adapting to this new norm, protecting their staff and patients, managing staff morale, and allowing the continuation of musculoskeletal care during the COVID-19 pandemic.http://journals.lww.com/jbjsoa/fulltext/10.2106/JBJS.OA.20.00050 |
| spellingShingle | Ming Han Lincoln Liow, MBBS, DWD(CAW), MRCSEd, MMed(Ortho), FRCSEd(Orth), FAMS Kenny Xian Khing Tay, MBBS, MRCSEd, MMed(Ortho), FRCSEd(Orth) Nicholas Eng Meng Yeo, MBBS, MRCSEd, MMed(Ortho), FRCSEd(Orth), FAMS Darren Keng Jin Tay, MBBS, MRCSEd, MMed(Ortho), FRCSEd(Orth) Seo Kiat Goh, MA, MBBChir(Cantab), MRCSEd, MMed(Ortho), FRCSEd(Orth), FAMS Joyce Suang Bee Koh, MBBS, FRCS(Ed), FRCSEd(Orth), FAMS Tet Sen Howe, MBBS, FRCS(Ed), FRCS(G), FRCS(Eng), FAMS Andrew Hwee Chye Tan, MBBS, FRCS(G), FRCSEd(Orth) Ensuring Business Continuity of Musculoskeletal Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic JBJS Open Access |
| title | Ensuring Business Continuity of Musculoskeletal Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic |
| title_full | Ensuring Business Continuity of Musculoskeletal Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic |
| title_fullStr | Ensuring Business Continuity of Musculoskeletal Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic |
| title_full_unstemmed | Ensuring Business Continuity of Musculoskeletal Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic |
| title_short | Ensuring Business Continuity of Musculoskeletal Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic |
| title_sort | ensuring business continuity of musculoskeletal care during the covid 19 pandemic |
| url | http://journals.lww.com/jbjsoa/fulltext/10.2106/JBJS.OA.20.00050 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT minghanlincolnliowmbbsdwdcawmrcsedmmedorthofrcsedorthfams ensuringbusinesscontinuityofmusculoskeletalcareduringthecovid19pandemic AT kennyxiankhingtaymbbsmrcsedmmedorthofrcsedorth ensuringbusinesscontinuityofmusculoskeletalcareduringthecovid19pandemic AT nicholasengmengyeombbsmrcsedmmedorthofrcsedorthfams ensuringbusinesscontinuityofmusculoskeletalcareduringthecovid19pandemic AT darrenkengjintaymbbsmrcsedmmedorthofrcsedorth ensuringbusinesscontinuityofmusculoskeletalcareduringthecovid19pandemic AT seokiatgohmambbchircantabmrcsedmmedorthofrcsedorthfams ensuringbusinesscontinuityofmusculoskeletalcareduringthecovid19pandemic AT joycesuangbeekohmbbsfrcsedfrcsedorthfams ensuringbusinesscontinuityofmusculoskeletalcareduringthecovid19pandemic AT tetsenhowembbsfrcsedfrcsgfrcsengfams ensuringbusinesscontinuityofmusculoskeletalcareduringthecovid19pandemic AT andrewhweechyetanmbbsfrcsgfrcsedorth ensuringbusinesscontinuityofmusculoskeletalcareduringthecovid19pandemic |