Maria Kahn1, Stephan Zellmer1, Alanna Ebigbo1, Anna Muzalyova1, Johanna Classen1, Vivien Grünherz1, Janis Böser1, Lutz P Breitling1, Albert Beyer2, Jonas Rosendahl3, Frank Lammert4, Claudia Traidl-Hoffmann5, Helmut Messmann6, Christoph Römmele1. 1. III. Medizinische Klinik - Gastroenterologie und Infektiologie, Universitätsklinikum Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany. 2. Praxis für Gastroenterologie und gastrointestinale Onkologie, Altötting, Germany. 3. Universitätsklinik und Poliklinik für Innere Medizin I, Universitätsklinikum Halle, Halle, Germany. 4. Vizepräsident und Vorstand für Krankenversorgung, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Hannover, Germany. 5. Lehrstuhl für Umweltmedizin, Universität Augsburg Medizinische Fakultät, Augsburg, Germany. 6. Department of Gastroenterology, Universitätsklinikum Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Practices and hospitals are facing great challenges in coping with the COVID-19-pandemic. So far, data on the impact of the pandemic on gastroenterological facilities are lacking, especially on a temporal course. A database is lacking, especially for the outpatient care sector. University Hospital of Augsburg was commissioned to generate data on this as a part of the collaborative project B-FAST of the Network of University Medicine (NUM). METHODS: Gastroenterological institutions nationwide were surveyed by an online questionnaire. Recruitment was carried out via the German Society of Gastroenterology, Digestive and Metabolic Diseases (DGVS) and the Professional Association of Gastroenterologists in Private Practice (bng). This manuscript provides an overview of data on the use of protective equipment, pre-interventional testing of patients, staff screening and economic impact over the course of the pandemic. RESULTS: 429 facilities answered the questionnaire. Practices tested their patients pre-interventionally significantly less often than clinics (7.8% vs. 82.6%). In clinics, inpatients (93.1%) were tested significantly more often than outpatients (72.2%). The use of personal protective equipment (PPE) increased significantly during the pandemic. It was shown that over 70% of facilities screened their staff for SARS-CoV-2 without cause. Clinics cancelled elective procedures significantly more often than practices in quarter 4/2020. Procedures and turnover decreased in 2020 compared to the previous year. However, fewer facilities were affected by a loss of revenue than expected in previous studies. CONCLUSION: Our data demonstrate the variable implementation of pre-interventional SARS-CoV-2 testing in outpatient and inpatient care. The use of adequate PPE and staff screening increased during the pandemic. Thieme. All rights reserved.
BACKGROUND: Practices and hospitals are facing great challenges in coping with the COVID-19-pandemic. So far, data on the impact of the pandemic on gastroenterological facilities are lacking, especially on a temporal course. A database is lacking, especially for the outpatient care sector. University Hospital of Augsburg was commissioned to generate data on this as a part of the collaborative project B-FAST of the Network of University Medicine (NUM). METHODS: Gastroenterological institutions nationwide were surveyed by an online questionnaire. Recruitment was carried out via the German Society of Gastroenterology, Digestive and Metabolic Diseases (DGVS) and the Professional Association of Gastroenterologists in Private Practice (bng). This manuscript provides an overview of data on the use of protective equipment, pre-interventional testing of patients, staff screening and economic impact over the course of the pandemic. RESULTS: 429 facilities answered the questionnaire. Practices tested their patients pre-interventionally significantly less often than clinics (7.8% vs. 82.6%). In clinics, inpatients (93.1%) were tested significantly more often than outpatients (72.2%). The use of personal protective equipment (PPE) increased significantly during the pandemic. It was shown that over 70% of facilities screened their staff for SARS-CoV-2 without cause. Clinics cancelled elective procedures significantly more often than practices in quarter 4/2020. Procedures and turnover decreased in 2020 compared to the previous year. However, fewer facilities were affected by a loss of revenue than expected in previous studies. CONCLUSION: Our data demonstrate the variable implementation of pre-interventional SARS-CoV-2 testing in outpatient and inpatient care. The use of adequate PPE and staff screening increased during the pandemic. Thieme. All rights reserved.
Authors: Anna Muzalyova; Alanna Ebigbo; Maria Kahn; Stephan Zellmer; Albert Beyer; Jonas Rosendahl; Johannes Zenk; Bilal Al-Nawas; Roland Frankenberger; Juergen Hoffmann; Christoph Arens; Frank Lammert; Claudia Traidl-Hoffmann; Helmut Messmann; Christoph Roemmele Journal: J Clin Med Date: 2022-05-12 Impact factor: 4.964