COVID-19 Case Study

Click on the link above to access the case study and begin the presentation. Review the case study, it is presented in sections, each of the scenario sections is followed by a series of questions. You will answer each question based on evidence you have read in the current literature, the CDC and WHO websites and or other supporting literature. When developing the paper the questions can be used as headings, to help with organization of the information. The paper must flow and it not just answers to questions. COVID-19 Case Study. Review the rubric for this assignment, the criteria outlined on the rubric will be used when grading your completed assignment. You are expected to submit a word document, using APA formatting, citations and a complete reference page. The case study is due week six and is worth 30% of your final grade.

The global health industry is now facing the threat of rising infectious diseases across the planet. Covid-19 is an outstanding illustration of an infectious illness that, following its spread, has taken the planet nearly to a complete stop. COVID-19 infects individuals when they move together, but coming together is also the way to defeat it. As a healthcare provider, once I have suspected that a person could be having Covid-19, some critical people should be informed. If the man is working, his employers and colleagues, including any establishments or public locations, like the airports he has been at, must be informed. Once the individual is diagnosed with the disease, they must be notified. All the places at which he was present may probably be contacted by the practitioner or the client (CDC, 2020). The HIPAA Privacy Rule safeguards the confidentiality of patient information; however, it is regulated to help make sure that acceptable information usage and releases can also be rendered as required to manage a client, to safeguard the general health of the country, and for other vital reasons (HHS.gov, 2020). COVID-19 Case Study.

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Additionally, when I suspect that a person could be having Covid-19; there are sets of procedures, plans, and resources that I would activate at this point. Firstly, I would isolate the client from other patients at this stage and restrict his interaction with the healthcare professionals. If possible, I would also test the members of his family that were in touch with him. Due to HIPAA rules, I would equip only the workers in close interaction with the client and give them the required PPE. The PPE would comprise gowns and masks. I would also ensure that all members of staff have quick and easy access to gloves and sanitizer and gloves to limit exposure.

Transferring an individual suspected of having Covid-19 to another hospital is also an issue that has stirred a debate in the healthcare sector. There is no need for patients to be moved to some other facility; all patients are checked before visiting the facility. To ensure self-safety, all health care transportation does have its own guidelines in place. The only rationale I would think they could be moved to some other facility would be to have the patient in a facility that is better equipped.

As a nursing practitioner, there are some prevention and control measures that I need to put in place for a patient suspected to be having Covid-19. The client must be placed under isolation until the signs are apparent and they have received sufficient tests to verify that the virus is negative and no more infectious. I would focus on ensuring that washing hands is carried out frequently for 20 seconds, covering the nose and mouth while sneezing or coughing (WHO, n.d). COVID-19 Case Study. I would also clean at least twice a shift with appropriate sanitation products, including the client’s individual gadgets like a mobile phone. As a nurse, before stepping in, I will guarantee appropriate PPE and appropriate disposal of PPE and washing hands instantly.

Sometimes, it is hard to differentiate when a patient has covid-19 or influenza. This is because both COVID-19 and Influenza are infectious respiratory diseases. However, different viruses cause them. COVID-19 is triggered by a new coronavirus infection (called SARS-CoV-2), and the flu is triggered by an influenza virus infection. I would verify that the client has COVID-19 or influenza by letting their primary care physician test him with a testing kit.

Once a patient has been confirmed of having Covid-19, I would notify about 15 individuals who have been personally associated with the client since the emergence of symptoms, such as close relatives, friends, nurses, and test doctors. A covered agency may disclose sensitive information with the family members of a patient, friends, relatives, or other individuals specified by the client as engaged in the care of the patient, as per HHS.gov (2020). A covered agency can also disclose information about a patient to recognize, find, and inform relatives if appropriate.

Moreover, once a patient has been confirmed to be having Covid-19 and more people connected to him also test positive for coronavirus, some actions would be triggered by this new event information. People might start panicking and go to shops to get anything relating to infection control, like masks, gloves, hand sanitizer, and Lysol. Misleading information about the virus could also start spreading among people, which drives others to fear more. A rise in COVID-19 tests will also occur. COVID-19 Case Study.

It cannot be denied that this news is very alarming, especially to the members of the family, specifically the family caregivers. They do want to take care of the affected person, but deep inside, there’s a thought that comes to their minds like, “What if I also get the disease?” “What will happen to me then?” These questions are just normal responses because no one wants to acquire covid-19, but at the same time, they want to help the ill person and be there until the recovery. According to Roman, Synder & Brown (2020), the challenges of family caregivers include the following:

1. Social isolation – those adults ages 45 and above are more isolated compared to younger adults. We have to keep in mind that having interactions with friends and neighbors could help us feel alive, feel their care, and ask for help, but it further isolates the people in this situation.
2. Burnout – family caregivers tend to attend to the needs of everyone in the family, including the sick that caused to have a potential burnout.
3. Lack of access to technology – in this pandemic, telehealth seemed to have accessible access to their users to provide health services, but it is hard for some people who do not know or limited knowledge on how to use it.
4. Limited interactions with health care facilities – the family caregivers cannot be there for the person affected with covid-19 since he needs to be isolated. The support from family caregivers will not be seen.
5. Financial constraint- it will be hard to financially support the ill person if the family caregivers lost his/their job. It can also lead to stress.

During this pandemic, there is a concept of uncertainty that will come up for both patients/family and nurses/medical practitioners. Considering their condition, it is very frightening for them to be in that position. They did not wish to have that disease, but sadly, they acquired it. Uncertainty is an undesirable feeling that every person can have. For the patients, they do not know what will happen to them next. Are they going to make it or not? Understanding the disease itself is unpredictable, and all they can do is trust the health care providers and have faith in God. For the family, they have endless questions in their minds like “Why it happened to you?” “You don’t deserve getting this disease after following all the protocols” They tend to ask more on how it did happen because they are in the denial stage. They want the best for their family members, and knowing that one of them acquired the disease, it will be hard for them to think clearly and prepare themselves for the possible outcome. For the healthcare providers, they are the heroes in this era. COVID-19 Case Study. They are scared, but they still chose to serve the people because it is in their oath. They promised that they would take care of the sick people and give their very best to heal them. No matter what happened to them, the thought of serving the people will make them feel fulfilled even they risked their very own life to help them.

There is an issue of psychosocial adjustment associated with this pandemic that is facilitated by families or facilities having patients with Covid-19. According to WHO (2020), the family shows more respect for someone who acquired the disease. Instead of talking about them, they manifest to be more understanding, show support, concern, and compassion toward the affected people. The family also minimized watching, listening, or reading news about Covid-19 to not be anxious about the current situation and protect their mental health. Additionally, the family had the chance to bond more for a long time and reflect on life and be thankful for keeping the family safe and far from illness. Hearing stories from the fully recovered covid-19 patients can help to have positive energy and be hopeful that it will soon be over soon. Above all, families and facilities honored all the health care providers for the services they had done. Acknowledging their efforts are somehow can help them to boost their strength. 

References

Coronavirus (COVID-19). (2020, May 12). HHS.gov. https://www.hhs.gov/coronavirus/index.html

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). (2020, June 4). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/php/contact-tracing/list-requirements-for-protecting-health-info.html

HIPAA and COVID-19. (2020, August 25). HHS.gov. https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/special-topics/hipaa-covid19/index.html

Infection prevention and control. (n.d.). WHO | World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/westernpacific/emergencies/covid-19/technical-guidance/infection-prevention-control

Mental Health. (2020). WHO | World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/mental-health-considerations.pdf. COVID-19 Case Study.

Roman, C., Snyder, R., & Brown, E. (2020, November 12). Strengthening family caregiving policies and programs through state collaboration. Health Affairs. https://www.healthaffairs.org/do/10.1377/hblog20201112.860149/full/

1. Who should be informed, when, and how?

If the man is working, his employers and colleagues, including any establishments or public locations, like the airports he has been at, must be informed. Once the individual is diagnosed with the disease, they must be notified. All the places at which he was present may probably be contacted by the practitioner or the client (CDC, 2020). The HIPAA Privacy Rule safeguards the confidentiality of patient information; however it is regulated to help make sure that acceptable information usage and releases can also be rendered as required to manage a client, to safeguard the general health of the country, and for other vital reasons (HHS.gov, 2020).

2. What plans, procedures and resources would you activate at this point?

I would isolate the client from other patients at this stage and restrict his interaction with the healthcare professionals. If possible, I would also test the members of his family that were in touch with him. Due to HIPAA rules, I would equip only the workers in close interaction with the client and give them the required PPE. The PPE would comprise gowns and masks. I would also ensure that all members of staff have quick and easy access to gloves and sanitizer and gloves to limit the exposure. COVID-19 Case Study.

3. Does the patient need to be transferred to another hospital? If so, where to and how?

There is no need for patients to be moved to some other facility; all patients are checked as of now before visiting the facility. To ensure self-safety, all health care transportation does have its own guidelines in place. The only rationale I would think they could be moved to some other facility would be to have the patient in a facility that is better equipped.

4. What Infection Prevention and Control measures would you put in place for this patient?

The client must be placed under isolation until the signs are apparent and they have received sufficient tests to verify that the virus is negative and no more infectious. I would focus on ensuring that washing hands is carried out frequently for 20 seconds, covering the nose and mouth while sneezing or coughing (WHO, n.d). Cleaning at least twice a shift with appropriate sanitation products, including the client’s individual gadgets like a mobile phone. As a nurse, before stepping in, I will guarantee appropriate PPE and appropriate disposal of PPE and washing hands instantly.

5. How will you confirm whether the patient has COVID 19 or influenza?

I would verify that the client has COVID-19 or influenza by letting their primary care physician test him with a testing kit.

6. Who needs to be informed of the results?

I would notify about 15 individuals who have been personally associated with the client since the emergence of symptoms such as close relatives, friends, nurses, and test doctors. A covered agency may disclose sensitive information with the family members of a patient, friends, relatives, or other individuals specified by the client as engaged in the care of the patient, as per HHS.gov (2020). COVID-19 Case Study. A covered agency can also disclose information about a patient to recognize, find, and inform relatives if appropriate.

7. What actions would be triggered by this new event information?

People might start panicking and go to shops to get anything relating to infection control, like masks, gloves, hand sanitizer, and Lysol. Misleading information about the virus could also start spreading among people which drives others to fear more. A rise in COVID-19 tests will also occur.

8. How will this news impact family caregivers? Connect examples to the literature regarding the challenges for caregivers.

It cannot be denied that this news is very alarming especially to the members of the family specifically the family caregivers. They do want to take care of the affected person but deep inside, there’s a thought that comes to their minds like “What if I also get the disease?” “What will happen to me then?” These questions are just normal responses because no one wants to acquire covid-19, but at the same time, they want to help the ill person and be there until the recovery. According to Roman, Synder & Brown (2020), the challenges of family caregivers include the following:

1. Social isolation – those adults ages 45 and above are more isolated compared to younger adults. We have to keep in mind that having interactions with friends and neighbors could help us feel alive, feel their care, and ask for help, but in this situation, it further isolates the people.
2. Burnout – family caregivers tend to attend to the needs of everyone in the family including the sick that caused to have a potential burnout.
3. Lack of access to technology – in this pandemic, telehealth seemed to have accessible access to their users to provide health services, but it is kind of hard for some people who do not know or limited knowledge on how to use it.
4. Limited interactions with health care facilities – the family caregivers cannot be there for the person affected with covid-19 since he needs to be isolated. The support from family caregivers will not be seen.
5. Financial hardship – it will be hard to financially support the ill person if the family caregivers lost his/their job. It can also lead to stress. COVID-19 Case Study.

9. Explore the concept of uncertainty for both patients/family and nurses/medical practitioners during this pandemic

Considering their condition, it is very frightening for them to be in that position. They did not wish to have that disease but sadly, they acquired it. Uncertainty is an undesirable feeling that every person can have. For the patients, they do not know what will happen to them next. Are they going to make it or not? Knowing the disease itself, it is unpredictable and all they can do is to trust the health care providers and have faith in God. For the family, they have endless questions in their minds like “Why it happened to you?” “You don’t deserve getting this disease after following all the protocols” They tend to ask more on how it did happen because they are in the denial stage. They just want the best for their family members and knowing that one of them acquired the disease, it will be hard for them to think clearly and prepare themselves for the possible outcome. For the healthcare providers, they are the heroes in this era. They are scared but they still chose to serve the people because it is in their oath. They promised that they will take care of the sick people and give their very best to heal them. No matter what happened to them, the thought of serving the people will make them feel fulfilled even they risked their very own life just to serve them.

10. In what ways did families and/or facilities facilitate psychosocial adjustment during the Covid-19 pandemic? Give examples from current news articles.

According to WHO (2020), the family shows more respect for someone who acquired the disease. Instead of talking about them, they manifest to be more understanding, show support, concern, and compassion toward the affected people. The family also minimized watching, listening, or reading news about Covid-19 to not be anxious about the current situation and protect their mental health. Additionally, the family had the chance to bond more for a long time and reflect on life and be thankful for keeping the family safe and far from illness. Hearing stories from the fully recovered covid-19 patients can help to have positive energy and be hopeful that soon, it will be over. Above all, families and facilities honored all the health care providers for the services they had done. Acknowledging their efforts are somehow can help them to boost their strength.COVID-19 Case Study.

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References

Coronavirus (COVID-19). (2020, May 12). HHS.gov. https://www.hhs.gov/coronavirus/index.html

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). (2020, June 4). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/php/contact-tracing/list-requirements-for-protecting-health-info.html

HIPAA and COVID-19. (2020, August 25). HHS.gov. https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/special-topics/hipaa-covid19/index.html

Infection prevention and control. (n.d.). WHO | World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/westernpacific/emergencies/covid-19/technical-guidance/infection-prevention-control

Mental Health. (2020). WHO | World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/mental-health-considerations.pdf

Roman, C., Snyder, R., & Brown, E. (2020, November 12). Strengthening family caregiving policies and programs through state collaboration. Health Affairs. https://www.healthaffairs.org/do/10.1377/hblog20201112.860149/full/

COVID-19 Case Study NUR 363

COVID-19 Case Study