More from less: Study on increasing throughput of COVID-19 screening and testing facility at an apex tertiary care hospital in New Delhi using discrete-event simulation software

Background

One of the challenges has been coping with an increasing need for COVID-19 testing. A COVID-19 screening and testing facility was created. There was a need for increasing throughput of the facility within the existing space and limited resources. Discrete event simulation was used to address this challenge.

Methodology

A cross-sectional interventional study was done from September 2020 to October 2020. Detailed process mapping with all micro-processes was done. Patient arrival patterns and time taken at each step were measured by two independent observers at random intervals over two weeks. The existing system was simulated and a bottleneck was identified. Two possible alternatives to the problem were simulated and evaluated.

Results

Scenario 1 showed a maximum throughput of 316. The average milestone times of all the processes after the step of “Preparation of sampling kits” jumped 62%; from 82 to 133 min. Staff state times also showed that staff at this step was stretched and medical lab technicians were underutilized. Scenario 2 simulated the alternative with lesser time spent on sampling kit preparation with a 22.4% increase in throughput, but could have led to impaired quality check. Scenario 3 simulated with increased manpower at the stage of bottleneck with 26.5% increase in throughput and was implemented on-ground.

Conclusion

Discrete event simulation helped to identify the bottleneck, simulate possible alternative solutions without disturbing the ongoing work, and finally choose the most suitable intervention to increase throughput, without the need for additional space allocation. It therefore helped to optimally utilize resources and get “more from less.”

Impact of COVID-19 on the patients' income and work in Delhi, India

Background

Currently, there is no data on the impact of COVID-19 on patients' income and work in India.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional study at a tertiary hospital in New Delhi. We included all the patients who were ≥18 years of age and consecutively diagnosed with COVID-19 between the 1^st of May 2020 to 31^st July 2020. Patients were interviewed by a physician using a semi-structure questionnaire. Data were collected on socio-economic status, occupation, income loss, leaves taken, decrease in work efficiency (self-perceived) and about-facing any stigma/discrimination at the workplace.

Results

Out of 245 patients, 190 patients were employed. A total of 126 patients (66.3%) self-reported their work was affected due to COVID-19 disease. A total of 30.5% of patients (n = 58/190) reported deduction in their salary. The median amount of salary loss was INR 10,000 (IQR 9000-25000). Decrease in income and work efficiency (self-perceived) was found to be 37.3% (n = 71) and 12.1% (n = 23), respectively. A total of 47 patients (37.3%) took personal leaves (median number - 17 days (IQR 14-25), and discrimination/stigma related to the COVID-19 at the workplace was faced by 22.6% of patients.

Conclusion

Income and work of a substantial number of patients was affected due to COVID-19, as there was a decrease in income and work efficiency. Patients also had to take personal leaves and face stigma in the workplace. This will inform the policymakers to formulate strategies to mitigate the impact of COVID-19.

How informed is the informed consent?

Background:

Informed consent is a cornerstone of the ethics of modern medical care. In an ideal world, informed consent is a process of education – a conversation between a surgeon and a patient or family that allows the patient or family to make the best possible decision regarding care.

Objective:

The study was conducted with objectives of assessing information given to the patient before taking consent for surgery and determining the compliance to various contents of the consent forms.

Material and Methods:

This was a prospective study over a period of 12 weeks in wards of various surgical departments of a 1000+ bedded tertiary care hospital. Patient interviews were conducted to assess their level of information and the consent forms were reviewed to assess the compliance.

Observations:

The overall level of information r4egarding various aspects among the participants was 75.14%. The level of information varied statistically with age, literacy level, annual income and the type of surgery. All the patients (100%) stated that they were informed about the current clinical condition/ problem, while only 34% were informed about risk and 26% about the alternative options. All the forms (100%) had a statement regarding the explanation of procedure to the patient/ guardian and none of the forms (0%) contained names of all practitioners performing the procedure.

Conclusion:

There is need to create awareness among doctors and also to educate patients regarding the importance of informed consent.

Seroprevalence of antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 in healthcare workers & implications of infection control practice in India

Background & objectives:

Healthcare workers (HCWs) are considered to be at a high risk of contracting COVID-19 infection. Besides, control of nosocomial infections transmitted from HCWs to the patients is also a cause of concern. This study was undertaken to investigate the seroprevalence of antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 virus among the hospital staff of a tertiary care health facility in north India.

Methods:

The HCWs were tested for SARS-CoV-2 serology (IgG+IgM) using chemiluminescence immunoassay between June 22 and July 24, 2020. Venous blood (2 ml) was collected and tested for SARS-CoV-2 IgG and IgM antibodies.

Results:

Of the 3739 HCWs tested, 487 (13%) were positive for total SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. The highest seroprevalence was observed in administrative staff (19.6%) and least in physicians (5.4%). The staff who used public (20%) and hospital transportation (16.9%) showed higher seroprevalence compared to staff using personal transportation (12.4%). No difference was observed between HCWs posted in COVID versus non-COVID areas. All seropositive symptomatic HCWs in our study (53.6%) had mild symptoms, and the remaining 46.4 per cent were asymptomatic. The antibody positivity rate progressively increased from 7.0 per cent in the first week to 18.6 per cent in the fourth week during the study.

Interpretation & conclusions:

The presence of antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 in a significant number of asymptomatic HCWs, association with the use of public transport, relatively lower seroprevalence compared with the non-HCWs and rising trend during the period of the study highlight the need for serosurveillance, creating awareness for infection control practices including social distancing and study of infection dynamics in the community for effective control of an infectious pandemic.

Life cycle costing of MRI machine at a tertiary care teaching hospital

Background:

Life cycle costing (LCC) is an excellent decision-making tool that can assist a hospital administrator in seeking more cost-effective decisions to select the best course of action. LCC can be defined as “an economic assessment of competing design alternatives, considering all significant costs of ownership over the economic life of each alternative, expressed in equivalent rupees.

Aim:

To determine the LCC of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machine at a tertiary care teaching hospital.

Settings and Design:

A descriptive, observational study in MRI scan center of a tertiary care teaching hospital.

Materials and Methods:

LCC analysis (LCCA) was performed to ensure total cost visibility for the entire life span of the MRI scan equipment, which was assumed to be 10 years.

Statistical Analysis:

Data were analyzed using MS Excel.

Results and Conclusions:

The total cost per MRI scan was calculated to be Rs. 2944. It was estimated that the MRI scan center would reach the break-even point by the end of the third year.