Bahrain’s resilience ‘model for the world’

BAHRAIN has displayed extraordinary resilience in fighting the pandemic with Team Bahrain’s united efforts setting a model for the world.

Patient safety and infection control were set as top priorities as the country’s medics took on the challenge of tackling Covid-19 right from the first day of the outbreak, said National Taskforce for Combating the Coronavirus member Dr Jameela Al Salman.

She said “evenly distributed manpower across all treatment facilities” and co-ordinated teamwork were key factors that reduced medics’ stress and ensured high rates of recovery.

Forum

Dr Al Salman was responding to the GDN post her presentation at the ‘Patient Safety – Prevention and Control of Infection Conference’, forum yesterday.

“Bahrain’s resilience has been amazingly extraordinary and the lessons we are learning are worth it, which we hope to soon share with the world,” she told the GDN.

“We can see that people (Team Bahrain) are enjoying what they are doing, as they know the value of their service, which is for the nation.

“The country, under an able leadership, has not spared any effort in ensuring international best practices.”

The GDN earlier reported that Bahrain has been leading the way in Covid-19 recovery, with the rate standing at 93.4 per cent.

Dr Al Salman, who is also the Infectious Disease Consultant at Salmaniya Medical Complex, spoke on patient safety and infection control and Covid-19.

She highlighted the immense workload on medics during pandemics which often impact their health and performance.

Twenty hours without sleep is equivalent to a blood alcohol level of 0.10, which decreases cognitive processing by 30pc, she pointed out.

“Nurses are three times more likely to make mistakes after 12 hours on the job.

“Interns made 30pc more errors in intensive care units when on a 24-hour call schedule.

“Bahrain hence ensured evenly distributed manpower across all its treatment facilities – the best countermeasure for fatigue is teamwork.”

Dr Al Salman also noted the importance of medical team maintaining “optimum stress.” “High stress leads to anxiety and panic while low stress could lead to boredom.

“Both affect performance levels and hence it is important to maintain a balance. This will help to plan and progress effectively.”

Teamwork is another aspect which was highlighted as one of the pillars of success in Bahrain’s Covid-19 protocols.

“Right from the beginning we were working as a team under four parts – forming, storming, norming and performing.

Leadership

“An amazing leadership also helped in achieving our goals.”

She said the team also reached out to every patient and ensured respect and understanding of all cultural values and beliefs, crossing language barriers.

Dr Al Salman highlighted a multi-pronged strategy to support patient, staff and organisations.

“Strengthen the system by assessing readiness, gathering evidence, setting up training workshops, promoting staff safety and bolstering peer support,” she said.

“We also need to engage with citizens, residents and their families so that the solutions are jointly achieved and owned by both the health care providers and the people who receive care, and in particular the citizens are required to undertake preventive interventions.”

The forum, highlighting the role of patient safety in ensuring a safe healthcare environment, is jointly organised by the Health Ministry, National Health Regulatory Authority and BDA Centre for Medical Training. Hosted in partnership with King’s Centre for Professional Development, UAE, the forum is expected to feature 16 prominent speakers from across the globe.

 

Source: http://www.gdnonline.com/Details/874185/Bahrain%E2%80%99s-resilience-%E2%80%98model-for-the-world%E2%80%99

 

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