Introduction: Patan Hospital (PH), Patan Academy of Health Sciences (PAHS) has separated non COVID and COVID emergencies for the safety of health care workers (HCWs). This study was conducted to assess the safety perception of healthcare workers working in emergency departments during the outbreak of COVID-19. Method: A cross sectional descriptive study was conducted among HCWs in non COVID and COVID emergency departments at PH, PAHS, Nepal, in April 2020 during COVID-19 outbreak. Questionnaires containing open and closed questions were used. Ethical approval was obtained. Result: Out of 72 HCWs, 58 (80.5%) responded, 47 (81%) felt need to have separate non COVID and COVID emergencies, 27 (46.6%) answered they were not comfortable working with the partial PPE (masks, gloves), 29 (50%) felt the need of having primary and secondary triaging. Conclusion: Emergency staff expressed need of having separate non COVID and COVID emergencies, and importance of primary and secondary triage.

Introduction: Healthcare workers (HCWs) awareness of disease outbreak, and working efficiently in a changed environment is vital to fight pandemic. How an institution responds to the crisis depends on HCWs response. This study aims to find out awareness of COVID-19 and work satisfaction of HCWs at Patan Hospital (PH), Nepal. Method: A cross-sectional questionnaires base descriptive study was conducted at PH, Patan Academy of Health Sciences, Nepal, in April 2020. The HCWs were grouped in to technical staff, doctors, and support staff. There were 20 questions each in the awareness of COVID-19 and work satisfaction domain. Ethical approval was obtained. Result: Of all the staff, 223 various level staffs responded to the questionnaire. There were 80 (35.9%) technical staff, 77 (34.5%) doctors and 66 (29.6%) support staff in the study. In the technical staff group 1106 (69.2%) responses were in favour of having good awareness and 1337 (83.5%) responses were in favour of satisfaction. In the doctors’ group 1233 (80.1%) responses were in favour of having good awareness and 1000 (65%) responses were in favour of satisfaction. In the support staff group 236 (17.7%) responses were in favour of having good awareness and 347 (26.2%) responses were in favour of satisfaction. Conclusion: Our study showed that technical staff and doctors had higher levels of perception of work satisfaction and awareness for COVID-19.

Infection prevention and control (IPC) programs play an integral part in the safety of patients, visitors, health care workers and environment as these programs provide guidelines and standard for recognition, prevention and control of infection. With COVID-19 pandemic, Patan Hospital, Patan Academy of Health Sciences, Nepal, is amongst the few hospitals in Nepal to have undertaken the responsibility of managing COVID patients. The COVID response plan has been activated and is currently the best prepared institution to manage this pandemic.