Should Australian states and territories have designated COVID hospitals in low community transmission? Case study for Western Australia

Ferguson, Chantal; Fletcher, Robert; Ho, Portia; MacLeod, Elizabeth

doi:10.1071/ah20199

Cited by 3 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…They faced challenges in operating at the margins at a time when communication channels were disrupted, and support from higher levels was variable, often with limited understanding of the rural hospital context [112]. An Australian study found that approaches which worked in urban areas such as designated COVID-19 hospitals, were less appropriate in rural areas where distance and travel were constraints [115]. Local hospital leadership in South Africa, New Zealand and the USA facilitated effective local responses, and models were developed such as a 'hub-and-spoke system' in which sicker patients were routed to a central rural or urban hospital [111,112,114].…”

Section: Role Of Digital Technologymentioning

confidence: 99%

COVID-19 preparedness and response in rural and remote areas: A scoping review

Dudley,

Couper,

Kannangarage

et al. 2023

PLOS Glob Public Health

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This scoping review used the Arksey and O’Malley approach to explore COVID-19 preparedness and response in rural and remote areas to identify lessons to inform future health preparedness and response planning. A search of scientific and grey literature for rural COVID-19 preparedness and responses identified 5 668 articles published between 2019 and early 2022. A total of 293 articles were included, of which 160 (54.5%) were from high income countries and 106 (36.2%) from middle income countries. Studies focused mostly on the Maintenance of Essential Health Services (63; 21.5%), Surveillance, epidemiological investigation, contact tracing and adjustment of public health and social measures (60; 20.5%), Coordination and Planning (32; 10.9%); Case Management (30; 10.2%), Social Determinants of Health (29; 10%) and Risk Communication (22; 7.5%). Rural health systems were less prepared and national COVID-19 responses were often not adequately tailored to rural areas. Promising COVID-19 responses involved local leaders and communities, were collaborative and multisectoral, and engaged local cultures. Non-pharmaceutical interventions were applied less, support for access to water and sanitation at scale was weak, and more targeted approaches to the isolation of cases and quarantine of contacts were preferable to blanket lockdowns. Rural pharmacists, community health workers and agricultural extension workers assisted in overcoming shortages of health professionals. Vaccination coverage was hindered by weaker rural health systems. Digital technology enabled better coordination, communication, and access to health services, yet for some was inaccessible. Rural livelihoods and food security were affected through disruptions to local labour markets, farm produce markets and input supply chains. Important lessons include the need for rural proofing national health preparedness and response and optimizing synergies between top-down planning with localised planning and coordination. Equity-oriented rural health systems strengthening and action on rural social determinants is essential to better prepare for and respond to future outbreaks.

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Section: Role Of Digital Technologymentioning

confidence: 99%

COVID-19 preparedness and response in rural and remote areas: A scoping review

Dudley,

Couper,

Kannangarage

et al. 2023

PLOS Glob Public Health

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…Western Australia has effectively kept a low number of COVID-19 cases and local transmission due to the strict lockdown and quarantine measures for international and domestic travellers (Ferguson et al ., 2020). In July and August 2020, WA emerged from COVID-19 lockdowns, easing most COVID-19 restrictions.…”

Section: Review Of the Relevant Literaturementioning

confidence: 99%

The impact of COVID-19 on regional event attendees' attitudes: a survey during and after COVID-19 lockdowns

Hooshmand

Sung

Jefferies³

et al. 2023

IJEFM

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PurposeThe current research presents a case study on how COVID-19 has influenced event attendees' attitudes toward safety procedures, venue capacity, purchasing tickets in advance, type of events (e.g. theatre, music and art) and the mode of the event (i.e. live vs online).Design/methodology/approachIn two timeframes (i.e. during and after COVID-19 lockdowns), data were collected via a self-completed online survey from a regional Western Australia (WA) town, Geraldton. In total, 94 event attendees were recruited in Wave 1 (during lockdowns), and 126 respondents were recruited in Wave 2 (after lockdowns). The naturalistic data collection examines how COVID-19 has influenced attendees' attitudes.FindingsThe findings suggest that attendees have adapted to the new normal of COVID-19. If safety procedures are followed, most respondents are comfortable attending an entertainment event during and after the lockdown (Wave 1 and Wave 2). Furthermore, respondents exhibited comfort following COVID-19 safety precautions at events even after COVID-19 lockdowns, except for mandatory mask-wearing. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has prompted event attendees to prefer lower seating capacity at events, while the gradual easing of restrictions reduces their discomfort toward higher seat capacity.Originality/valueAlthough some research has examined the financial and economic impact of COVID-19 on the event industry, there is limited research on consumers' or attendees' perceptions and attitudes toward events, particularly entertainment events and festivals, as the world emerges from the pandemic. Thus, the current case study is the first to examine event attendees' attitudes toward entertainment event management and operation during and after COVID-19 lockdowns. The finding provides significant theoretical and managerial implications surrounding the reaction of event attendees toward entertainment events (i.e. festivals) during health crises such as COVID-19.

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“…Immense demand on finite healthcare resources has challenged both health care personnel and medical supply systems, with hospitals increasing surge capacity. 1 Globally, several initiatives have been trialled to manage patient influx into emergency departments (ED), with a primary focus on structural modifications to existing infrastructure. Levy and colleagues 2 reported on the success of an adapted triage process in a large Israeli hospital that allowed for the separation of COVID positive and negative patients presenting to the ED.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Reverse triage in COVID surge planning: a case study of an allied health supported clinical care pathway in an acute hospital setting

et al. 2023

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Objective This case study describes the development and outcomes of a new integrated and multidisciplinary care pathway. Spearheaded by allied health, the ‘COVID community navigator team’, applied established principles of reverse triage to create additional surge capacity. Methods A retrospective cohort study examined workflow patterns using electronic medical records of patients who received navigator input at the Royal Melbourne Hospital between 20 September 2021 and 20 December 2021. Results There were 437 eligible patient encounters identified. On average patients stayed 4.15 h in the emergency departments (ED) (s.d. = 4.31) and 9.5 h (s.d. = 10.9) in the short stay unit. Most patients were discharged into a ‘low risk pathway’ with community general practitioner follow up. Of discharged patients, only 38 re-presented to the ED with symptoms related to their initial COVID-19 diagnosis (34.9% of total re-admissions). Of these re-admissions, more than half did not require admission to a ward. Conclusion The findings presented here provide support for the clinical utility of a multidisciplinary reverse triage approach in surge planning for anticipated presentation peaks.

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Should Australian states and territories have designated COVID hospitals in low community transmission? Case study for Western Australia

Cited by 3 publications

References 10 publications

COVID-19 preparedness and response in rural and remote areas: A scoping review

COVID-19 preparedness and response in rural and remote areas: A scoping review

The impact of COVID-19 on regional event attendees' attitudes: a survey during and after COVID-19 lockdowns

Reverse triage in COVID surge planning: a case study of an allied health supported clinical care pathway in an acute hospital setting

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