2. MEMORAMDUM

 

Date                 :April 11, 2003

 

To                     : ALL Concerned

 

From                 : Assistant Hospital Director

 

Subject:                        : Manila Doctors Hospital Protocol for the Containment of SARS

 

 


  1. The MDH will be part of the national response to control the possible threat of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)..
  2. Venues for information dissemination regarding the global threat of SARS will be made available to all medical, paramedical and auxillary MDH personnel through a SARS forum on April 9, 2003, 9:00 at Tangco Hall (we also like to welcome the public), posters and a special issue of the MDH Gazette.
  3. Screening for SARS at the MDH will begin from all entry points for patients, with security guards directing patient with fever and cough to the SARS information Center.
  4. The SARS Information Center will be manned by the Interns assigned at ER. A triage Screening Questionnaire for each patient and masks will be available in this area.
  5. Person assessed to be possible SARS Suspects will be directed to the SARS Information Center. A surgical mask will be given to the patient. A resident will take charge of performing a more comprehensive assessment of case.
  6. If patient fulfills the criteria for SARS Suspect, the case should be reported by the resident to the following by telephone:

 

Office of the Medical director (local 3640, 8159)

Infection Control Committee (local 2851, Dr. Velmonte: 5249858 or 9230650)

Department of health  (7417048/7431937) and the

Administration (local 8120)

 

   7.    If needed, a chest X-ray (portable) will be   done at the SARS Information Center. If Chest X-ray is suggestive of pneumonia, patient will be labeled as Probable SARS.

  1. SARS suspect and Probable SARS patient shall be referred for transfer to either the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine or the San Lazaro Hospital. Conduction to referral hospital will be the responsibility of MDH transport. Self Conduction should be not allowed. A patient who refuses must be asked to sign a waiver.
  2. In the event that the patient I is to ill for transfer or referral center are full, patient will be admitted to 11F, utilizing the rooms 1110 and 1111.
  3. Watchers (Bantays0 and visitors will not be allowed in and around the 11F area.
  4. The SARS Information Center should screen close contacts will managed as above. Asymptomatic contacts will be advised self quarantine (stay in the house) for fourteen (14) days.
  5. The hospital will provide for protective devices, such as N95 masks, surgical mask, gloves, goggles, and disposable gowns, for MDH personnel who will be working in the above areas.
  6. Proper infection control measures such as handwashing, use of protective barriers and disinfection of exposed personal materials/clothing should be the responsibility of every health care worker who will be potentially at risk to exposure to SARS.
  7. For any questions or request for lectures, please direct calls to the Infection Control Committee or the office of the Medical Director.

 

For strict compliance.

 

RITA WANNIGER

Assistant Hospital Director