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. 2021 Mar-Apr:69:126-128.
doi: 10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2020.12.015. Epub 2020 Dec 26.

COVID-19 pandemic inpatient bed allocation planning - A Canada-wide approach

Antonio Paletta  1 , Dorothy Yu  2 , Daniel Li  3 , Jitender Sareen  1
Affiliations

COVID-19 pandemic inpatient bed allocation planning - A Canada-wide approach

Antonio Paletta et al. Gen Hosp Psychiatry. 2021 Mar-Apr.

Abstract

Objective: A Canada-wide survey was disseminated to collect information regarding changes in processes related to providing care to patients on inpatient psychiatry units in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Our aim was to share this information with those who have an interest in problem-solving these significant and unique challenges.

Method: The survey was distributed through the Association of Chairs of Psychiatry of Canada to Department Heads of Psychiatry at all sixteen medical schools. Information was collected via SurveyMonkey April 26-May 9, 2020. Eleven psychiatrists representing 11 different Canadian city/centre/zone(s) completed the survey.

Results: Information was collected about process changes: physical separation on the wards, symptom and vital signs screening, testing, isolation, rationales for number of beds allocated for COVID-positive, -suspect and -negative patients and for selecting a particular hospital to provide care to these different groupings of patients. One subsection of the information is presented in this letter. Further information is available upon request.

Conclusion: Similarities and differences existed between city/centre/zone(s) regarding approaches to providing care to patients on inpatient psychiatry wards. Significant preparation and consideration was put into determining necessary changes in response to this pandemic, and this is reflected in the information provided from each city/centre/zone.

Keywords: COVID-19; Canada; Inpatients; Pandemic; Planning; Psychiatry.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

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