COVID-19 first appeared in 2019, later developing into a pandemic. Since then, many lives and workplaces have adapted to handle the societal, safety, and health effects of COVID. Here is how COVID-19 has impacted all medical offices.
Protocols
Since the pandemic pertains to people's health, the healthcare system implemented new, COVID-specific protocols. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) also generated COVID-specific measures regarding potential workplace risks caused by the disease. Many of these legally-issued agreements are not mandatory but highly recommended for optimal health and safety practices. Some of the mandated protocols include vaccine requirements for employees, isolating after exposure to the virus, and wearing masks. Each state enforces COVID-19 regulations differently, causing medical offices around the country to function under diverging operations. Medical practices further differ depending on private or public ownership. Additionally, requirements continue to fluctuate, prompting medical offices to become more flexible.
Training
With the rise of new legalities and practices, training within the industry is constantly evolving. OSHA requires workplaces to conduct annual training sessions for medical offices, regardless of protocol changes. The pandemic's high risks and new management formats led to a COVID-oriented section in many training manuals, including our own OSHA Training for Medical Offices. COVID protocol training covers various workplace health and safety practices, including how to manage employee exposure to COVID and how to minimize the spread of the disease.
Communication
The importance of clear communication and loyalty within a medical office increased with the outbreak, especially due to the disease's contagious nature. Staff members rely on fellow workers' honesty and communication skills to ensure they aren't working in a highly infectious space. If employees show up to work while sick or fail to mention they may have symptoms, they put their coworkers and patients at risk. With COVID-19 affecting people in different ways, spreading the virus can be dangerous and, at times, fatal. Clear and honest communication prevents bringing COVID to the office and allows people to practice certain health and safety measures, like testing, isolating, and working from home.
Patients
Many medical offices have experienced a surge of incoming patients, regardless of services offered. Another pandemic-related change is how offices greet, handle, and schedule patients. Offices implementing COVID-safe practices might require appointment-based visits rather than walk-ins, changes in waiting area arrangement, fewer appointments per day to accommodate thorough cleaning between patients, and electronic services.
COVID-19 has impacted all medical offices and numerous aspects of people's lives. Persevering through a pandemic involves flexibility and overcoming countless obstacles. Handling these changes is easier with the right knowledge and implementation of practices. Providing your clinic with the best training courses will educate and prepare your employees for COVID adjustments.