Responding to COVID-19: how an academic infectious diseases division mobilized in Singapore

Sophia Archuleta(National University of Singapore), Gail Brenda Cross(National University of Singapore), Jyoti Somani(National University of Singapore), Lionel Lum(National University of Singapore), Amelia Santosa(National University of Singapore), Rawan Alagha(National University Hospital), David Michael Allen(National University of Singapore), Alicia Ang(National University Hospital), Darius Beh(National University Hospital), Louis Yi Ann Chai(National University of Singapore), Si Min Chan(National University Hospital), See Ming Lim(National University Hospital), Dariusz P. Olszyna(National University of Singapore), Ong C(National University of Singapore), Jolene Oon(National University of Singapore), Brenda Mae Alferez Salada(National University Hospital), Nares Smitasin(National University of Singapore), Louisa Sun(National University Hospital), Paul Anantharajah Tambyah(National University of Singapore), Sai Meng Tham(National University Hospital), Gabriel Yan(National University Hospital), Chen Hui Yee(National University Hospital), Yock Young Dan(National University of Singapore), Roland Jureen(National University Hospital), Nancy Wen Sim Tee(National University of Singapore), Malcolm Mahadevan(National University Hospital), Ying Wei Yau(National University Hospital), Swee Chye Quek(National University of Singapore), Eugene H. Liu(National University of Singapore), Clara Sin(National University Hospital), Natasha Bagdasarian(National University of Singapore), Dale Fisher(National University of Singapore)
BMC Medicine
June 8, 2020
10.1186/s12916-020-01641-7
Cited by 10Open Access
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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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