BMC Medicine (Jun 2020)
Responding to COVID-19: how an academic infectious diseases division mobilized in Singapore
- Sophia Archuleta,
- Gail Cross,
- Jyoti Somani,
- Lionel Lum,
- Amelia Santosa,
- Rawan A. Alagha,
- David M. Allen,
- Alicia Ang,
- Darius Beh,
- Louis Chai,
- Si Min Chan,
- See Ming Lim,
- Dariusz P. Olszyna,
- Catherine Ong,
- Jolene Oon,
- Brenda M. A. Salada,
- Nares Smitasin,
- Louisa Sun,
- Paul A. Tambyah,
- Sai Meng Tham,
- Gabriel Yan,
- Chen Hui Yee,
- Yock Young Dan,
- Roland Jureen,
- Nancy Tee,
- Malcolm Mahadevan,
- Ying Wei Yau,
- Swee Chye Quek,
- Eugene H. Liu,
- Clara Sin,
- Natasha Bagdasarian,
- Dale A. Fisher
Affiliations
- Sophia Archuleta
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, National University Hospital, National University Health System
- Gail Cross
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, National University Hospital, National University Health System
- Jyoti Somani
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, National University Hospital, National University Health System
- Lionel Lum
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, National University Hospital, National University Health System
- Amelia Santosa
- Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore
- Rawan A. Alagha
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, National University Hospital, National University Health System
- David M. Allen
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, National University Hospital, National University Health System
- Alicia Ang
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, National University Hospital, National University Health System
- Darius Beh
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, National University Hospital, National University Health System
- Louis Chai
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, National University Hospital, National University Health System
- Si Min Chan
- Department of Pediatrics, Khoo Teck Puat - National University Children’s Medical Institute, National University Hospital, National University Health System
- See Ming Lim
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, National University Hospital, National University Health System
- Dariusz P. Olszyna
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, National University Hospital, National University Health System
- Catherine Ong
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, National University Hospital, National University Health System
- Jolene Oon
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, National University Hospital, National University Health System
- Brenda M. A. Salada
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, National University Hospital, National University Health System
- Nares Smitasin
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, National University Hospital, National University Health System
- Louisa Sun
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, National University Hospital, National University Health System
- Paul A. Tambyah
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, National University Hospital, National University Health System
- Sai Meng Tham
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, National University Hospital, National University Health System
- Gabriel Yan
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, National University Hospital, National University Health System
- Chen Hui Yee
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, National University Hospital, National University Health System
- Yock Young Dan
- Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore
- Roland Jureen
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, National University Hospital, National University Health System
- Nancy Tee
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, National University Hospital, National University Health System
- Malcolm Mahadevan
- Emergency Medicine Department, National University Hospital, National University Health System
- Ying Wei Yau
- Emergency Medicine Department, National University Hospital, National University Health System
- Swee Chye Quek
- Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore
- Eugene H. Liu
- Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore
- Clara Sin
- Group Operations, National University Hospital, National University Health System
- Natasha Bagdasarian
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, National University Hospital, National University Health System
- Dale A. Fisher
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, National University Hospital, National University Health System
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-020-01641-7
- Journal volume & issue
-
Vol. 18,
no. 1
pp. 1 – 9
Abstract
Abstract Background On January 30, COVID-19 was declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern—a week after Singapore’s first imported case and 5 days before local transmission. The National University Hospital (NUH) is Singapore’s third largest hospital with 1200 beds, heavy clinical workloads, and major roles in research and teaching. Main body With memories of SARS still vivid, there was an urgent requirement for the NUH Division of Infectious Diseases to adapt—undergoing major reorganization to face rapidly changing priorities while ensuring usual essential services and standards. Leveraging on individual strengths, our division mobilized to meet the demands of COVID-19 while engaging in high-level coordination, strategy, and advocacy. We present our experience of the 60 days since the nation’s first case. During this time, our hospital has managed 3030 suspect cases, including 1300 inpatients, 37 confirmed cases, and overseen 4384 samples tested for COVID-19. Conclusion Complex hospital adaptations were supported by an unprecedented number of workflows and coordination channels essential to safe and effective operations. The actions we describe, aligned with international recommendations and emerging evidence-based best practices, may serve as a framework for other divisions and institutions facing the spread of COVID-19 globally.
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