The past two years have been unprecedented for both the healthcare industry and the world at large due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but things are finally beginning to turn around on both fronts. Healthcare facilities have been able to return to a more normalized level of care, with more patients receiving the treatments they need without fear. These include those that were parleyed due to the pandemic taking priority until recently. Per the New York Times, the daily cases throughout the United States are consistently falling, having now reached an average of below 100,000 per day.
More restrictions are being peeled back in healthcare facilities, especially as they relate to outpatient care and visitation among family members. Though some regulations remain in place, it’s clear that healthcare facilities have come a long way from the dark early days of the pandemic. These facilities remain ground zero in combatting the virus, however, which is why many of them are still on guard and taking precautions against it.
COVID-19’s Impact On the World and the World of Healthcare
After March 2020, people were faced with a new reality that felt completely alien from life beforehand. This meant kids that were now utilizing remote learning, community playgrounds that were marked as off-limits, curbside being the new dine-in, and somehow learning to work from home amid the newfound chaos. Needless to say, this was a drastic shift for most; according to an economic briefing by Patrick Coate, less than 6% of American workers reported working primarily from home back in 2019. For management and professional workers, this number skyrocketed to over 50% by May 2020, completely upending schedules and disrupting whole industries in the process.
Easily the most affected realm was the healthcare industry, who directly dealt with the fallout of COVID-19. Healthcare facilities were filled to the brim in many places, all while their staff toiled tirelessly to care for every patient that was brought through the door. For those going in and out of healthcare facilities, safety protocols were quickly implemented that aimed to stop the virus in its tracks. This was all in addition to heightened cleaning protocols that involved constantly sanitizing the premises and providing PPE for guests and staff. These were reinforced by increasingly ubiquitous signage reminding people to stay six feet apart, mask up, and wash hands to help slow the spread of germs. Likewise, visitation from family and friends was heavily curtailed, making 2020 in particular a fairly dark year for many.
Renewing Your Healthcare Facility’s Dedication to Safety
It’s been over two years since the initial onset of the pandemic, and the situation is much different. Thanks to a combination of factors, including a vaccine and a simple increase in knowledge about the nature of the virus, the once dire tone surrounding COVID-19 has become one that’s far more manageable. Restrictions and mandates are falling by the wayside, and while things aren’t quite back to normal entirely, many are able to once again have more frequent visitation from their loved ones and embrace them with open arms. As families triumphantly reunite, healthcare facilities should still remain vigilant to protect staff members, patients, and residents alike. The CDC itself recently pulled back on many of their previous health recommendations concerning the virus, with some states passing laws that prevent former restrictions from ever coming back and separating families like they did during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. While that’s great news for many long term care residents, it makes extra safety precautions in healthcare facilities more necessary than ever, namely with the huge uptick in patient volumes compared to when healthcare facilities were more locked down.
Keep in mind that for long term care facility residents who use devices such as ventilators or different varieties of catheters, they’re especially at an increased risk for certain illnesses, including COVID-19. In response, some healthcare systems have begun implementing “post-COVID” clinics to help those suffering from lingering symptoms or those with vulnerabilities. Health conditions such as these require specific safeguards, which is why it would be wise for your healthcare facility to maintain many of the social distancing protocols that it employed for the past two or so years. These include having some variant of “face covering required” signage installed throughout the facility, whether masks are outright mandatory or simply a much appreciated suggestion. Further bolster safe interaction with social distancing floor markers, which help to create a safe distance between staff, guests, and residents. Helping to keep the spread of germs to a minimum, these signs may have become scuffed up or worn over the past two years, so updating them with refreshed signage should be a top priority. Social distancing seat markers are very similar, pointing out where exactly visitors can sit on couches or benches to maintain a safe distance. Before visitors or even staff come through the door, however, make sure that they aren’t possibly contagious already. If you implement temperature screenings, inform incoming visitors with temperature check signs at the entrance of your healthcare facility.
Signage doesn’t have to even be COVID-19 related, with health and safety signs pointing out good guidelines for everyday health and wellness. Sneeze guards for front desks help keep germs away in general, and are likely to remain a permanent feature like what can be found in banks. Likewise, general restroom health signs remind everyone of the proper hygiene for your facility’s bathrooms. No matter what ype of social distancing, health-related, or other signage you need, HealthcareSigns.com is here to ensure that your healthcare facility has them. Our dedication to safety and health extends to meeting all compliancy standards of regulations organizations such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Add in our Life-of-the-Building Guarantee that promises to replace any of our signs that are found to be faulty, and we’re your one-stop shop for ordering the signage that makes your healthcare facility healthier and more hospitable.