The pandemic has been a difficult time for all of us. The government has made tough decisions to close businesses while leaving others open. People are struggling to find work to get by, and some businesses simply have had to shut down from lack of income. On the other hand, medical clinics have been exceptionally busy, as many people turn toward them to help when disease strikes. Therefore, it can be extremely easy to get backlogged and fall behind. There are a few things that any medical clinic should do to ensure they are staying ahead of COVID and doing what’s best for their patients. Here are some ways you can do to ensure your medical clinic is ready.
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A medical trailer for testing
The WHO and other health organizations have been studying the virus in a great deal since its origin last year. They have found that the virus is extremely contagious, and that those in close proximity to it have a high risk of contracting the virus unless they are wearing proper protective equipment. Sometimes, the equipment isn’t enough, however, as many people touch their face without noticing, therefore exposing themselves to the virus.
It’s for this reason, as a medical clinic, that you have to greatly limit the amount of exposure COVID patients have with other patients. While you might have the training to stay safe and not touch your face and other surfaces before sanitizing, others might not have that type of control. What’s the best way to separate COVID patients from your other patients? Medical trailers are a great way to not only get your patients tested, but also treat them as well.
While it might sound crude or primitive, medical trailers can be extremely high-tech and come with all the standard features a normal medical clinic would have. COVID patients will also understand having to use a trailer, as they know the risks the virus poses. The experts at https://www.craftsmenind.com/mobile-medical-vehicles-new-used mention that these mobile vehicles can either be new or used and outfitted in any way you like. Therefore, you can designate it as a testing center, or a treatment center for COVID patients who need extra attention. Regardless of what you intend to use it for, it’s a great idea and a fantastic way to ensure that your whole medical clinic doesn’t become contaminated by the virus.
Strict sanitization regulations
Taking the time to wipe down every surface might be frustrating, but it’s mandatory when it comes to preventing the spread of the virus. Consider getting a cleaning service that specializes in giving surfaces a deep clean. This will ensure that the virus is eliminated from any surfaces in your clinic. If you’ve decided to get a medical trailer, you can save money in this regard, as these cleaning services will only be needed for your trailer and other areas where COVID positive patients were. If you’re ever unsure about the sanitization regulations, you can easily read up on several resources to ensure you’re following proper protocol. At the end of the day, it’s better to be safe than sorry.
Offer personal protective equipment to visitors.
While you might have a large share of marks for yourself, people who come to your clinic might not have a ton of them that they can use. At a time like this, it’s recommended that you get some basic medical masks, and leave them right at the entry to the medical clinic along with sanitizer for your clients. You don’t have to give them extremely high-tech masks, but the masks do have to be certified. It’s an inexpensive way to stop the spread of the disease, and will ensure that people aren’t spreading it to one another as long as they are wearing their mask. You must have each client sanitize their hands before handling the mask, as they could potentially contaminate other masks that will be worn by other people. Do your part and offer protective equipment for anyone who enters your clinic.
Schedule by appointment only.
Many medical clinics are open for walk-ins, meaning anyone can walk in the doors, take a seat, and then see a doctor. In a normal environment, there’s nothing wrong with this. However, in today’s atmosphere, many risks come with letting someone into the clinic before being properly screened. By ensuring that your clinic is appointment only, people will have to call in and divulge their symptoms beforehand. If you have anyone who might have the virus, you can take the appropriate measures beforehand and prepare for their arrival. The last thing you want is to be surprised by someone walking in through the door, and then coughing and sneezing on everything.
Working by appointment only also gives you time to screen your patients. It takes more work, but you can offer them advice before they even come in. For example, if your patient shows extremely minor symptoms, you can advise them to stay home instead of coming in. On the flipside, if they show extreme health issues, you can take the necessary steps to ensure that they get the support and care they need. During the pandemic, schedule by appointment only and stick to it.
These are a few ways for you to ensure that your clinic is running safely and responsibly during the pandemic. As mentioned earlier, there’s no such thing as being too safe, as the virus is extremely contagious and deadly if the person has an autoimmune disorder. Do your part for not only your clinic, but for the rest of the world. If we follow the correct instructions, we can get through this and return to life as it once was. What have you been doing to prepare your medical clinic for COVID and the pandemic?