The outbreak of Coronavirus has disrupted our lifestyle in every manner. Its wrath is no less for pregnant women, and they are also placed in the vulnerable group by the Chief Medical officer in case of immunity. This announcement indicates the extra measures and cares to be taken for them.

Nonetheless, with the situation around, pregnancy care has to be continued for the healthy growth of the baby. Antenatal and postnatal appointments cannot be postponed or canceled due to this pandemic. Yet, back in mind, every one of us is scared about contracting the virus when stepped out.

KIMS Cuddles, understand the situation, and know at best about your concerns. Hence, we have come up with one of its kind for a screening facility. This facility checks patients and attendants in the gateway, away from the crucial blocks, before they enter into the hospital. The COVID-19 screening (also called Thermal screening) center is designed with complete attention to “safety.” We strongly believe that medical fraternity should never be a cause in transmitting the virus. And every single measure is taken accordingly to provide a virus-free environment for treating pregnant women.

What measures are taken inside a thermal screening center?

The vital motive behind the set up is to create the safest possible zone for women while entering into the hospital. The thermal screening center is completely fitted out with the trained staff on COVID-19. The contactless temperature check is first performed, then the consent form with the entire history of the patient, together with their travel and COVID-19 positive people exposure details are collected. Depending upon their details, safety ribbons are tied up to segregate the people.

Before tying the ribbons, the first level of asepsis is performed where their hands are sterilized using the sanitizer solutions. Then the strips are tied based upon their category. The colors of ribbons include a green ribbon that is suited for COVID clean patients, pediatrics and doctors, a blue ribbon for the attendants who come along the patients, an orange ribbon for mild symptomatic or susceptible people.

The orange ribbon people are entirely guided into a different direction towards the makeshift ward. The clean, susceptible free, and asymptomatic cases are conducted into the hospital.

The infrastructure of the makeshift ward

A makeshift award with complete social distancing and prevention norms is created for symptomatic patients. This ward has separate registration counters and different vital recording counters. It is then divided into 3 distinct chambers, one of which is a Physicians chamber for the symptoms of breathlessness or fever. Second is a Pulmonologist chamber for consultations regarding breathing trouble, chronic cough, and chest related issues. For pediatric children with slight suspect symptoms, the consultation is provided in the third chamber.

An isolated sample collection for the highest suspects is also provisioned. It is stocked with all unique equipment required for the sample collection and trained staff to monitor the process.

The whole makeshift ward is entitled to abundant ventilation for the free flow of air. It is a semi-open area to avoid the circulation of the same breath. In the case of worried or high symptomatic patients, a complete isolated pink ward is created for the observation. The samples of such are collected and then sent for screening. In the case of people, whose symptoms are high, and the travel or contract history matches up with some COVID cases, we immediately direct them to respective COVID centers entitled by the government.

The sterilizing chamber for complete disinfection

Now, asymptomatic patients are guided to enter the hospital. Yet, the patients have to pass the sterilizing chamber to enter the hospital. The sterilizing section has pumping units that disperse sodium hypochlorite steadily. One needs to sterilize their hands again, second asepsis for bare hands. Then, the person is asked to enter the chamber and walk slowly through it. One has to allow themselves to be exposed to vapors and aerosols of sodium hypochlorite for about 8-10 seconds.

The sterilization chamber helps in sanitizing the external surfaces, including one’s clothes, hair, and belongings.

Guiding through the normale

Now, every person entering the hospital is checked, double sterilized, and ensured safe.

Soon after the sterilization chamber, the pregnant women are escorted to the special ward through the obstetric OPD, with absolute measures for pregnant women as well as pediatrics. The chairs in the OPD are marked in such a way to comprehend the social distancing norms. Alternate chairs are marked to leave one chair and settle in the next to maintain the minimum distance.

In the obstetric ward, the boxes are marked for distancing to avail of the services. The chairs are also placed at the maximum possible distance. The minimum PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) requirements are well maintained by the staff in the front office, by the doctors and scanning specialists.

Ultra-sonography and consultation services

Our well-furnished ultrasound room, where the screening of all pregnant women is performed through ultrasonography, is open and available. Our services to check every detail of the baby’s growth and care is not stopped or restricted. With trained staff to curb the spread and great PPE measures, the whole place is installed with disposals. A complete risk-free environment is created and maintained for pregnant women and their antenatal care.

“COVID-19 is one-of-a-kind of viral infection which enters the respiratory tract and causes problems. The root of the infection is droplet transmission through eyes, or nose, or mouth. This is where the role of prevention comes in. The acts of government, self and social distancing and lockdown help us yield better results to throw away COVID out of our country” our doctor said, the head of obstetrics, “At Cuddles, it’s our immense responsibility to take care of pregnant women, who are placed in a vulnerable group in terms of low immunity levels and infection spread rates. We ensured every bit of screening to create virus-free zones for their assistance and care. Our doctors are well equipped with N95s and shields for their protection as well as the patients. ”

We, at Cuddles, are taking the utmost care in terms of asepsis and social distancing norms. The entire care and attention are given for our patients to ensure their safety and protection. It is a moral, social responsibility of us to take care of every pregnant woman. Since the smaller centers have space restrictions to follow the necessary precautions, they are not allowed to function. This state has left an immense responsibility upon us to provide even better services for everybody at this hour of need with the highest quality of sterility.

KIMS cuddles have our motto to provide a stress-free environment and happy souls. Now, we bestow on the risk-free environment with high sterile conditions for every mother’s safety!