Covid 19: Arwyp ready to deal with the pandemic
All the cases that were tested at Arwyp Medical Centre so far tested negative.
Arwyp Medical Centre is working closely with the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) and Department of Health (DoH) to align the hospital with the clinical guidelines and protocols for managing coronavirus (Covid-19) patients.
The NICD also collaborates with the World Health Organisation (WHO) to develop and distribute clinical guidelines and case definitions for doctors and nurses in both the public and the private sectors to better detect, identify and respond to a possible Covid-19 patients.
A health-care facility readiness checklist, developed by the NICD, highlights key areas, and Arwyp is in the process of aligning the facility according to the checklist specifications.
Admitting patients is dependent on appropriate bed availability. Arwyp admits funder/private patients.
Is the hospital preparing isolation ward rooms?
Arwyp is compliant in terms of the National Health Act 61 of 2003 with regards to isolation of all infectious diseases. They are, however, restricted in terms of the number of patients that can be isolated due the number of isolation beds and licence limitations.
All the cases that were tested at Arwyp Medical Centre so far tested negative.
What procedure is followed?
For anyone that presents to the facility and matches the criteria, it is a standard procedure to isolate them and apply infection-prevention measures set out as per the NICD guidelines. These guidelines include guidance on what samples to collect to confirm the diagnosis as well as how to best manage the case clinically and to prevent spread to others while the diagnosis is being made.
A patient is not deemed to have Covid-19 until the test results return positive.
All suspected cases are reported to the NICD and they will advise the clinician on future management.
The public can contact the NICD’s 24-hour toll-free hotline: 0800 029 999.
Arwyp Medical Centre’s Emergency Department can be contacted on 011 922 1172 for more advice if you are concerned that you may be infected.
Laboratory tests
The NICD approved Covid-19 tests to the South African public from March 9 on referral of a clinician.
Covid-19 laboratory tests for the public are done by Lancet Laboratory and Ampath Laboratory at designated screening centres.
Tests will only be done when a patient is referred by their doctor.
If not admitted to Arwyp, where would this patient be sent?
Patients will be directed to a designated facility identified by DoH and/or NICD. Hospitals closest to Kempton Park are Charlotte Maxeke in Johannesburg and Steve Biko in Pretoria.
Do positive patients have a choice to be admitted to private hospitals such as Arwyp?
A decision for admission will be in collaboration with DoH and NICD. Private paying patients can be offered a choice to be admitted to a facility of their preference in collaboration with the above departments.
Visitors
All visiting hours at Arwyp has been cancelled until further notice.
