The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) has drafted guidelines for ENT practice amidst COVID-19. The guidelines are released to minimize the risk of COVID-19 among ENT doctors, nursing, and supporting staff, patients, and attendants. The present article provides a summary of the protocols to be followed in ENT OPDs, surgery wards, and operation theatres. Protocols For OPD: The patients should be encouraged for teleconsultation over personal consultation. A prior teleconsultation would help to identify the need for physical examination at the clinic.
The entry of patients should be regulated. The use of masks and the maintenance of hand hygiene and social distancing should be ensured, as per the SOPs formulated by MoHFW. All patients entering OPDs should be thermally screened. Symptomatic patients should be seen in a separate OPD with all the necessary precautions. Consulting…
