{"id":10003,"date":"2020-03-26T14:05:12","date_gmt":"2020-03-26T18:05:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=10003"},"modified":"2020-07-29T15:57:51","modified_gmt":"2020-07-29T19:57:51","slug":"healthcare-workers-and-covid-19","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/news\/healthcare-workers-and-covid-19\/","title":{"rendered":"How can healthcare workers protect themselves from coronavirus?"},"content":{"rendered":"

CORONAVIRUS UPDATE: As experts learn more about the novel coronavirus, news and information changes. For the latest on the COVID-19 pandemic, please visit the<\/span><\/i> Centers for Disease Control and Prevention<\/span><\/i><\/a>.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Most people are practicing social distancing to help flatten the curve and stem the spread of the novel <\/span>coronavirus (COVID-19)<\/span><\/a>. But there is one group of workers who need to be on the front lines of this pandemic. They are working hard to help keep the rest of the world healthy. They are, of course, the healthcare workforce.<\/span><\/p>\n

Whether you are an in-home caregiver, or work in a hospital, nursing home, or doctor\u2019s office\u2014you may be exposed to the coronavirus while doing your job. It is vitally important to take every possible step to protect yourself. Here, we ask experts to answer frequently asked questions about COVID-19 and healthcare workers.<\/span><\/p>\n

How will I know if a patient has COVID-19?<\/span><\/h2>\n

\u201cHealthcare workers should be notified if they are being exposed to potential patients who may have COVID-19,\u201d says <\/span>Dr. Shuhan He<\/span><\/a>, emergency medicine physician at the Center for Innovation in Digital Healthcare at Mass General Hospital.<\/span><\/p>\n

This allows healthcare workers to take extra precautions around these patients. But what if the patient hasn\u2019t been tested or diagnosed yet? How will you know if they might have COVID-19?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI generally stick to five key symptoms,\u201d says Dr. He. \u201cFevers, chills, cough, sore throat, and generalized malaise. Someone with a runny nose or runny eyes is less risky, although not entirely guaranteed to not have coronavirus.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

RELATED: <\/b>How to tell if your coronavirus symptoms are mild, moderate, or severe<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

What steps can in-home caregivers take to protect themselves?<\/span><\/h2>\n

\u201c<\/span>Wash your hands<\/b>, wash your hands, wash your hands,\u201d says <\/span>Barbara Dehn<\/span><\/a>, RN, a women\u2019s health nurse practitioner known as Nurse Barb. \u201cAlso, be sure the home has disinfectant for surfaces. If there is no disinfectant, then use a diluted bleach solution.\u201d In-home caretakers\u00a0 care for <\/span>vulnerable patients<\/span><\/a>, who are likely at high risk of infection, so killing the virus on surfaces is important for their health\u2014and your own.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Personal protective equipment (PPE) is crucial.<\/b> Make sure the company you work for is keeping you well-stocked with gowns, gloves, and masks. \u201cIf you are caring for someone who is mildly sick at home, wear gloves, wash your hands before and after putting on the gloves,\u201d Dehn says. She recommends the person you\u2019re caring for also wearing a mask if they\u2019re able and for you to \u201cchange your clothes after caring for the person and wash in hot water in your washing machine.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIf the person needs more care, do get guidance from their healthcare provider about whether they should be in a hospital and what symptoms would prompt that,\u201d Dehn explains. \u201cIf a person is sick and it\u2019s a mild case, continue to speak to the healthcare provider about what symptoms to be alerted for, such as shortness of breath or fever that doesn\u2019t improve with over-the-counter remedies like <\/span>Tylenol<\/span><\/a>.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ensure that your patient doesn\u2019t infect others<\/b>, particularly if they live with other people. Have the sick person stay in a separate part of the house, six or more feet away from their family members or housemates, and close the door. Consider that person to be contagious for two weeks after symptoms start, even if the symptoms are mild. <\/span><\/p>\n

RELATED: <\/b>Current COVID-19 treatments<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

How can hospital or nursing home staff protect themselves?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Hospital and nursing home workers have a high risk for coming into contact with COVID-19 patients. Healthcare facilities have infection control committees that formulate infection control guidelines for the staff. Most of the hospitals require proper PPE use while having an encounter with a confirmed or suspected COVID-19 patient. There are more relaxed recommendations if someone is walking across a hallway. It is important to follow the recommendations by your local medical facility.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Dr. He and Dehn both say that the recommendations for hospital and nursing home staffs are very similar to those for home healthcare workers:<\/span><\/p>\n