Outpatient Surgery Magazine, providing current information on Surgical Services, Surgical Facility Administration, Outpatient Surgery News and Trends, OR Excellence and more.
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members who want to enter the facil- ity when their loved ones are under- going surgery must be tested the day before, just like patients. We also routinely test every clini- cal staff member, physician, vendor and other visitors who enter the facility. We created a bubble and put in a protocol that says simply: If you don't have a test, you're not allowed in. Creating comprehensive testing and screening pro- tocols is only one part of the equation, though. You have to adhere to the protocols — even at the expense of your practice. I performed 27 spine cases in one week last month, but it would've been 29 if we didn't cancel two procedures due to patients and family members who tested positive for COVID-19. 2. Support your staff It doesn't matter how many protocols you have in place if your staff doesn't feel supported and safe working in your facility. Your staff are ultimately the face of your facility. Whatever they feel about the culture, condi- tions and safety of the workplace will ultimately be translated to your patients. If your staff projects the image that they're being taking care of, patients will instantly feel safe in their care. As soon as the pandemic hit, I let my staff know that if they got the coronavirus while working, they would be able to stay home and receive their pay, whether they had sick time or not. We held a lot of meetings in the early months to explain the protocols we were put- ting in place and why. I've also bought lunch for my team every day during the pandemic to avoid having to manage food deliver- ies and staff leaving the facility throughout the day. We distanced the breakroom and staggered the breaks, so everyone wasn't eating at the same time. The support I've shown my staff is a two-way street; I asked them for a commitment to follow safe prac- tices in their personal lives. I told them, "We're doing everything in this facility to ensure we're safe and have a safe place to work, so if you don't need to be out at stores or restaurants or gathering, please don't. Please practice social distancing, wear your masks and don't be foolish." J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 1 • O U T P A T I E N T S U R G E R Y . N E T • 9 The honesty and transparency paid off. In fact, I've had staff come in and say, "I'm worried because of where I was last weekend." In cases like this, I'd tell the staff member to stay home for a couple days (with pay) and get an extra test as soon as one is available. I can't stress this enough: If you're honest with your staff, if you tell them exactly what you're going to do to make the workplace safe, they'll give back that commitment a hundredfold. 3. Tell your story With proper protocols and a comfortable, supported staff dedicated to providing safe care, the final piece of the puzzle is getting the word out there that your facility is fully operational in the midst of the pan- demic. I've made it a point to accept any media requests that come my way. We also post constant updates on the facility's website about our continu- ous commitment to safety and the documented results we've achieved through our protocols. For instance, thanks to our precautionary measures, we've had zero cases of COVID-19 internally. This type of messaging is what patients need to hear. Outpatient facilities can be a safe haven where patients still feel safe getting the care they need. We have to remind them that abandoning or delay- ing care because of the pandemic isn't the answer to the problems we're facing. Even if your COVID-19 protocols aren't where they should be now, you still have time. We're likely only a third of the way through the pandemic. If you plan on providing safe patient care during the pandemic, commit to doing it right. Don't take any shortcuts. — Robert S. Bray, Jr., MD Dr. Robert S. Bray, Jr. (info@discmdgroup.com) is a board-certified neurological spine surgeon and the CEO and founder of DISC Sports & Spine Center in Newport Beach, Calif. If your staff projects the image that they're being taking care of, patients will instantly feel safe in their care. — Robert S. Bray, Jr., MD