A winter surge of Covid-19 has arrived in key provinces of Canada, with Quebec and Ontario the worst affected and experts predicting some concerning statistics as we look ahead to the end of 2020.
The provinces of Saskatchewan and Alberta also recently reported their worst daily surge in cases since the pandemic began, with cases on the rise even in remote Arctic territories. Leaders have signalled that some lockdown measures may have to be reimposed to curb the spread if this trend continues, and hospitals are bracing for a surge in admissions, demand for ICU beds, and inevitably, a rise in the number of deaths.
Capacity planning and surge strategy are an ongoing process for all hospitals across Canada. Infection control measures that were prioritised for high risk areas continue to cascade down throughout facilities, while interim arrangements put in place to cope with the first surge are giving way to more permanent solutions.
At Belroc, we’ve been helping our clients respond to the need for increased capacity since the beginning of this pandemic, and will continue to do so throughout the difficult months ahead. Here are some of the key ways we can help your facility to prepare for increased demand as we head towards the peak of this winter surge:
- Increasing ward space
Capacity planning in the face of a global pandemic is a gargantuan task and one that has seen all sorts of strategies deployed around the world, including the setting up of field hospitals to cope with any overflow. But since human resources are also a major challenge during these surges, most hospitals are looking to increase capacity within their existing footprint as a main priority.
Creating additional capacity isn’t as simple as just putting in extra beds – patient dignity and infection control must be carefully considered. Curtain and track systems are one of the easiest and most efficient ways to create safe, private spaces for observation, treatment and recuperation. Belroc’s InstaSwap system allows hospitals and care homes to immediately create extra bed bays in almost any location, whether adding to existing wards or repurposing other interior environments to cope with increased demand.
Our Fast Track Program means you can order pre-cut lengths of our best-selling curtain track for immediate dispatch – use with your existing curtain panels, or for a complete solution, select InstaSwap panels from our Quick Ship range, and get started on increasing your capacity right away. Click here to find out more about InstaSwap.
- Improving infection control
A key driver for many of the facilities that have switched their curtain systems to Belroc’s InstaSwap in this pandemic has been the added peace of mind the system affords in terms of infection control. According to research, prior to Covid-19 hospitals would change privacy curtains in low-risk wards around every four weeks. Experts say it’s likely that SARS-CoV-2 can survive on textile surfaces for a period of hours, perhaps even up to a day, on fabrics. Therefore curtain hygiene has become an urgent priority, even in areas of the hospital or care home where patients were not previously considered ‘at risk’.
InstaSwap facilitates frequent curtains changes thanks to its unique modular system. The curtain panel is in two parts that connect using heavy duty snap fasteners, which means the lower section – that part that becomes contaminated quickest – can simply be removed and replaced as often as required. The snap fasteners sit at head height so staff don’t need to use a ladder or step stool, which as well as being much safer, makes curtain changes faster. And because variations in ceiling height are accommodated by the top mesh portion of the curtain, all the washable panels are a standard size. This makes inventory and storage much easier, removing another barrier to frequent changeouts.
- Simplifying hygiene
Unlike many of the serious infection control risks in a hospital, SARS-CoV-2 is not confined to the clinical areas. It’s one of the most infectious viruses in living memory and loves to dwell on surfaces of all kinds – from hospital beds and trolleys to hand rails, doors and washroom partitions.
Stringent hygiene is a first line of defence in the war against this virus, and this has dramatically increased the burden on facility management teams working to keep Canada’s hospitals and care homes scrupulously clean at all times. Facilities with dated interiors or damaged internal finishes are the most at risk of cross-infection, because worn, porous or damaged surfaces provide more places for particles of virus to lurk. Replacing wooden handrails and other porous surfaces within your facility makes disinfecting those surfaces a breeze for staff, and reduces the chance of viral spread. Belroc’s range of wall and surface protection brings together quality, ease of installation and aesthetics for interiors that are every bit as hygienic as they look.
- Saving time
Time is arguably our healthcare system’s most precious resource, and at Belroc we aim to do whatever we can to save our clients time, and allow them to get on with the real work of saving lives. From our surface protection solutions which reduce the amount of time it takes to effectively disinfect common touchpoints, to our InstaSwap curtain system that facilitates changeouts in just a few minutes, to our fast Track service, which enables healthcare facilities to scale up their patient capacity quickly in times of urgent need, we’re focused on providing the infrastructure and the service our partners in healthcare need to effectively tackle the challenges they face on a daily basis.
Many of our end user products are available to order right away and we’re working to keep installation lead times as short as we possibly can.
To discuss how Belroc can benefit your facility, contact Dan Lawrenson – dlawrenson@belroc.com.
