Learning from the COVID-19 pandemic experience is important.
Here are some broad principles to consider during a recurrence of such an event or a need to 'lockdown'.
- Health systems (e.g. GP, pharmacy, nursing) should strive to share information and follow clear guidance to address recovery needs for COVID-19 patients
- Messages from healthcare staff and operational staff should be provided in a consistent way
- Professionals should have access to:
- online resources, webinars, updated and emerging evidence (Lawrence et al., 2021)
- clinical networks and hubs (NHS, 2020) to increase the effectiveness of operations and systems
- A triage process providing telephone or in-person appointments according to clinical need and restrictions of the pandemic. Another way of making decisions to provide face-to-face treatment is to use a flowchart recently published in a UK context (Lee, Koo and Panter, 2021)
Working together across departments and care settings is important and may include:
- Departments should have a good link between them, clear documentation, record-keeping and communication. Communication between professionals needs to be improved and care should focus on holistic and comprehensive approaches
- To ensure strong links between acute and community settings (Cawood et al., 2020) some solutions are:
- Healthcare workers should be trained, and resources allocated (Cawood et al., 2020)
- Multidisciplinary follow up should be prescribed at least for six weeks post discharge (Eekholm et al., 2020)
- Redeployment of staff and upskilling (Lawrence et al., 2021)
- Have access to helpful information from CCGs (Clinical Commissioning Groups)
- Ensure effective information sharing including clinical records (for baseline measures) and use MDT virtual or in-person meetings (NICE, 2020)
- Work closely with physiotherapists or other healthcare professionals