Just the Facts: Protecting frontline clinicians during the COVID-19 pandemic

Atkinson, Paul; French, James; Lang, Eddy; McColl, Tamara; Mazurik, Laurie

Very important. A guideline is only as effective as the way in which it is implemented and adhered to. While concerns about supplies of PPE and the reliability of PPE recommendations are valid, these conversations can distract Protecting frontline clinicians during the COVID-19 pandemic from the importance of compliance with good practice when it comes to wearing and removing (donning and doffing) PPE. While careful donning of PPE is important, the higher risk of worker contamination is when removing the PPE during doffing. Appropriate training, by video 9 and in person with a buddy system, drills, checklists, and in situ simulation can greatly enhance the effectiveness of PPE use. Managers tasked with oversight of worker health and safety should personally participate in training and practice sessions for selecting, donning, and doffing of PPE, in addition to regular observation and coaching on shift. Situations where breaches in PPE procedures are most likely include those where there is insufficient warning or time to prepare for a critical procedure, such as cardiac or respiratory arrest or rapid decline of a patient's clinical status. It is vital that emergency health care workers, either in hospital or in the community take the time to don appropriate PPE before initiating treatment, no matter how urgent the situation may be. 10 The health and safety of health care workers is primary in a pandemic, to be able to continue to provide care for subsequent patients.