CIRCULAR H 154 of 2020: COVID-19 Guidance for Managing Adults in an Inpatient Setting

This circular has been published by the Western Cape Department of Health. EMGuidance confirms that it is not the owner of the information provided, nor does it intend to present it as such.

CIRCULAR H154 of 2020: COVID-19 Guidance for Managing Adults as Inpatient Setting

The Western Cape Department of Health is committed to supporting the delivery of standardised, efficient inpatient care during the COVID-19 outbreak. 

This PACK COVID-19 inpatient package is designed for use by professional health workers – doctors and nurses – working in an inpatient setting. The package aims to draw together the latest Western Cape policies and guidelines to provide a practical and systematic approach to assessing and managing adults with suspected and confirmed COVID-19 in any inpatient setting, including intermediate care facilities. 

As PACK usually comprises primary health care guidance, it is important to note that this content is different in that it focuses on inpatient care in the context of COVID-19. 

Content includes guidance on:

• Determining appropriate initial level of care
• Admitting the patient with suspected or confirmed COVID-19
• Monitoring the inpatient with suspected or confirmed COVID-19
• Managing the inpatient with COVID-19 and diabetes
• Managing the inpatient with COVID-19 and other conditions
• How to take a swab for SARs-CoV-2
• Palliative and end-of-life care for patients with COVID-19
• Safe handling of the deceased COVID-19 patient
• Completion of death certificate and death summary for the deceased COVID-19 patient

Click here for the document

This package has been developed by the Knowledge Translation Unit using the following source policies and guidelines and drawing on the kind input of specialists and clinical leads within the Western Cape Department of Health.   

Source guidelines used include:

• Clinical management of suspected or confirmed COVID-19 disease, Version 4. National Department of Health/National Institute of Communicable Diseases (18 May 2020)
• World Health Organization (WHO) Clinical management of COVID-19 (27 May 2020)
• Standard Treatment Guidelines and Essential Medicines List for South Africa. Hospital Level, Adults. 2015 edition.
• Standard Treatment Guidelines and Essential Medicines List for South Africa. Primary Healthcare Level. 2018 Edition.
• Providing Palliative Care in South Africa During the COVID-19 Pandemic – PALPRAC, The Association of Palliative Care Practitioners of South Africa (2020)
• COVID-19 Disease: Infection Prevention and Control Guidelines, Version 2. National Department of Health (21 May 2020)
• World Health Organization (WHO) Prevention and Control for the safe management of a dead body in the context of COVID-19.
• WHO interim guidance (24 March 2020)
• World Health Organization (WHO) International guidelines for certification and classification(coding) of COVID-19 as cause of death Based on ICD. International Statistical Classification of Diseases (20 April 2020)

Circulars used include:

• Circular H88/2020: Acute hospital admissions (18 May 2020)
• Circular H110/2020: Guidance for Emergency Centres in the Western Cape during the COVID19 Response update (12 June 2020)
• Circular H148/2020: Guidance for Emergency Centres in the Western Cape during the COVID19 Response update (7 July 2020)
• Circular H89/2020: COVID-19 guidance for health workers in primary health care facilities (27May 2020)
• Circular H79/2020: Clinical guidelines: COVID-19 Providing Palliative Care (14 May 2020)
• Circular H125/2020: Guidance for health workers providing palliative and end-of-life care to COVID-19 patients in an inpatient setting (1 July 2020)
• Circular H41 of 2020: COVID-19: Management of decedents in the Western Cape (30 March2020)
• Circular H144/2020: Issuing of Death Notifications Forms in Natural Deaths (8 July 2020)

We hope this package will be a support to you as you work on the frontline of the response to the pandemic, to bring care to the many who need it. We thank you for your commitment, courage, and professionalism. The various authors of the policy circulars referenced in this document could be approached for further information. Ms Anne-Rita Koen Anne-Rita.Koen@westerncape.gov.za may be approached for support to obtain these circulars.

Yours sincerely

DR KEITH CLOETE

HEAD OF DEPARTMENT WESTERN CAPE GOVERNMENT HEALTH

DATE: 21 JULY 2020