It Could Be Worse But It Should Be Better: COVID-19 and The Lebanese Radiology Departments Preparedness (original) (raw)
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Healthcare
With the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the need for radiologic procedures is increasing for the effective diagnosis and follow-up of pulmonary diseases. There is an immense load on the radiographers’ shoulders to cope with all the challenges associated with the pandemic. However, amidst this crisis, Lebanese radiographers are also suffering from a socioeconomic crisis and record hyperinflation that have posed additional challenges. A cross-sectional study was conducted among registered Lebanese radiographers to assess the general, workplace conditions, health and safety, mental/psychologic, financial, and skill/knowledge development impacts. Despite applying an adapted safety protocol, institutions are neither providing free RT-PCR testing to their staff nor showing adequate support for infected staff members, thus causing distress about contracting the virus from the workplace. Aggravated by the deteriorating economic situation that affected the radiographers ...
Egyptian Journal of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, 2020
BackgroundThe current COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in marked and rapid changes to the standing policies of radiology departments globally. The aim of this review article is to describe the various processes implemented by a radiology department in an educational institution in a resource limited country during the COVID-19 crisis, giving insights into the adopted strategies in other institutions in developed countries.Main bodyOur preparedness strategy was directed into five main domains: protection and wellness of radiology faculty and staff, radiological examinations and patients’ safety, education, research, and financial support. By implementing new strategies, we found that work reorganization through the use of home PACS provided safe and effective reporting service, low infection rate with zero mortality, and online lectures and theses defense were successful. Furthermore, governmental support and donations were helpful in facing financial challenges during the pandemic. A ...
Radiography, 2021
Introduction This study aimed to investigate the response of the radiology workforce to the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on professional practice in India and eight other Middle Eastern and North African countries. It further investigated the levels of fear and anxiety among this workforce during the pandemic. Methods A quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted using an online survey from 22 May-2 June 2020 among radiology workers employed during the COVID-19 pandemic. The survey collected information related to the following themes: (1) demographic characteristics, (2) the impact of COVID-19 on radiology practice, and (3) fear and (4) anxiety emanating from the global pandemic. Results We received 903 responses. Fifty-eight percent had completed training on infection control required for handling COVID-19 patients. A large proportion (79.5%) of the respondents strongly agreed or agreed that personal protective equipment (PPE) was adequately available at work during the pandemic. The respondents reported experiences of work-related stress (42.9%), high COVID-19 fear score (83.3%) and anxiety (10%) during the study period. Conclusion There was a perceived workload increase in general x-ray and Computed Tomography imaging procedures because they were the key modalities for the initial and follow-up investigations of COVID-19. However, there was adequate availability of PPE during the study period. Most radiology workers were afraid of being infected with the virus. Fear was predominant among workers younger than 30 years of age and also in temporary staff. Anxiety occurred completely independent of gender, age, experience, country, place of work, and work status. Implications for practice: It is important to provide training and regular mental health support and evaluations for healthcare professionals, including radiology workers, during similar future pandemics.
Impact of COVID-19 on Radiography Practice: Radiographers’ Perspective
Environment-behaviour proceedings journal, 2023
This study aims to evaluate the radiographers' perceptions of the impact of COVID-19 on radiography practice. From May to June 2022, a crosssectional online survey was conducted of radiographers working in ten hospitals. Fifty respondents are involved (female=28; male=22). 94% of radiographers reported an increasing workload, with 30% frequently stressed. 68% and 60% are confident in their knowledge of COVID-19 transmission and infection control, even though 78% had received specific training to prepare for the pandemic. The high workload and fear of infection increase the radiographers' stress during the pandemic.
Dealing with COVID-19: initial perspectives of a small radiology department
Singapore medical journal, 2020
Online first papers have undergone full scientific review and copyediting, but have not been typeset or proofread. To cite this article, use the DOIs number provided. Mandatory typesetting and proofreading will commence with regular print and online publication of the online first papers of the SMJ.
Strategies for radiology departments in handling the COVID-19 pandemic
Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology
The world is facing an unprecedented global pandemic in the form of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) which has ravaged all aspects of life, especially health systems. Radiology services, in particular, are under threat of being overwhelmed by the sheer number of patients affected, unless drastic efforts are taken to contain and mitigate the spread of the virus. Proactive measures, therefore, must be taken to ensure the continuation of diagnostic and interventional support to clinicians, while minimizing the risk of nosocomial transmission among staff and other patients. This article aims to highlight several strategies to improve preparedness, readiness and response towards this pandemic, specific to the radiology department.
Radiology Department Preparedness for COVID-19: Radiology Scientific Expert Panel
Radiology
Rapid isolation of patients suspected of having COVID-19 at screening Training of all employees to follow infection control protocols and to use PPE Centralization of PPE supplies to prevent shortages, distributed on the basis of clinical need Restricted travel for staff for all domestic and international work-related activities Use of videoconferencing for hospital and/or health system staff meetings Note.-COVID-19 = coronavirus disease 2019, PPE = personal protective equipment.
Radiology Department Preparedness for COVID-19: Radiology Scientific Expert Review Panel
Radiology, 2020
Rapid isolation of patients suspected of having COVID-19 at screening Training of all employees to follow infection control protocols and to use PPE Centralization of PPE supplies to prevent shortages, distributed on the basis of clinical need Restricted travel for staff for all domestic and international work-related activities Use of videoconferencing for hospital and/or health system staff meetings Note.-COVID-19 = coronavirus disease 2019, PPE = personal protective equipment.
Management of a diagnostic radiology department amid Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic
Indian Journal of Radiology and Imaging, 2021
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SAR-CoV-2) is a highly contagious infectious disease and spreads through aerosols and fomites. Health care personnel who are at the forefront of the fight against coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic are also at greater risk of contracting the infection. Mixing of uninfected people with infected people is potentially hazardous, especially in a radiology department. Implementation of meticulous operational changes, curtailment of nonurgent radiological work, rationalization of staff, equipment disinfection, use of personal protection equipment, and psychological support are needed to combat COVID-19 or any such infectious disease outbreak. This technical note will familiarize radiology workers with infectious disease outbreak-response to be adopted to ensure the safety of staff and patients.
The Pan African medical journal, 2020
The global health system is currently facing the new SARS-COV 2 pandemy. This exceptional situation requires, from our African health systems, to reorganize and readapt the usual protocols when they were carried out before the crisis and/or their urgent implementation otherwise. As imaging is one of the pillars of the diagnosis of infection with this emerging virus, it was essential to rethink the imaging department organization so as to dedicate a unit to COVID-19 activity while maintaining the usual emergency activity within the Ibn Sina university hospital in Rabat. The protection of exposed personnel and the bio-cleaning of radiology equipment and rooms also became an evidence. The active involvement of the administration, the Clinical Pharmacy Department and the Nosocomial Infections Control Committee is a key to the success of this reorganization.