Proposed Topic (Most preferred): :
Clinical Safety and Quality Service I (Projects aiming to improve efficiency and effectiveness of care delivery to meet international standards)
Proposed Topic (Second preferred): :
Clinical Safety and Quality Service II (Projects aiming to enhance clinical safety and outcomes, clinical governance / risk management)
Authors (including presenting author) :
Cheng KL(1), Ng PY(1), Li HL(1), Liu SP(2), Kwok HH(2), Chiu MY(2)
Affiliation :
(1) Infection Control Team, Caritas Medical Centre, (2) Central Nursing Division, Caritas Medical Centre
Introduction :
Amid the pandemic of COVID-19, early case detection by testing can enable prompt isolation and infection control measures and thus mitigating transmission risk in hospital.
Objectives :
This project aimed to empower the Patient Care Assistant (PCA) to collect nasal and throat swabs to undergo Raid Antigen Test (RAT) and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) for COVID-19, so as to enhance the efficiency and relieve the workload for nurses.
Methodology :
A standard operating procedure (SOP), procedure guides and workflow were developed specifically for the targeted procedures and operators to safeguard the specimen quality, staff competency and patient safety.
A 2-hour training workshop was designed for PCA II in terms of theoretical knowledge, skill trainings, return demonstration and written assessment. The content covered technique of specimen collection, infection control measures, patient identification and handling of patient’s sudden change of condition etc.
Upon completion of workshop, the participants were required to perform at least one procedure at their clinical settings under supervision.
The participants who successfully passed the clinical practicum would be accredited and they can perform the procedure independently. The list of accreditation operator was posted at CND web for easy reference.
Result & Outcome :
A total of 41 PCA II attended the workshops on 14/2/2023 and 16/2/2023. All of them passed the written assessment and return demonstration.
Of the 36 evaluations returned, all of them agreed / very agreed that they had good understanding on the training contents.
As of 12/4/2023, 35 of them completed the assessment at their clinical settings and acted accredited operator for performing specimen for COVID-19.
