Adapting to a new normal? 5 key operational principles for a radiology service facing the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

• Radiology services encountering the coronavirus disease-19 pandemic will need to modify their daily operational practices.• Leadership, patient risk stratification, adequate manpower, operational workflow clarity, and workplace/social responsibility will help Radiology services safely and sustainably deal with the current disease outbreak.

Keywords: COVID-19; Coronavirus; Disease outbreak; Radiology; Singapore.

Fig. 1

a Total radiology workload, 2019 vs 2020. We have made a conscious effort to reduce our workload to deal with the increased operational demands and potential surges in patient load during this outbreak period. Since our first COVID-19 case, our workload has decreased by approximately 25% compared to last year. b COVID-19-related chest x-ray workload, 20 January to 15 March 2020. Our COVID-19 suspect chest x-ray workload has dramatically increased, largely related to an interim change in suspect case definition from recent travel from China to any recent travel from abroad

Fig. 2

Radiology entrance triage questionnaire. If a patient does not have any flu-like symptoms, they are allowed to enter our radiology department and continue with their imaging examination. If a patient has flu-like symptoms, they are immediately brought to a separate room. A physician will take into account any recent travel history from high risk COVID-19 countries, contact with known local COVID-19 case/clusters, and exam urgency before deciding whether or not to allow them to proceed with their radiology examination. Note every patient must sign on the declaration form, and providing false statements is subject to a fine of up to SGD $10,000 or jail up to 6 months or both (in accordance with Section 21(A) of the Singaporean Infectious Diseases Act)