Hospital preparedness and management of pediatric population during COVID-19 outbreak
Yasser M Kazzaz1, Hamad Alkhalaf1, Musaed Alharbi1, Mohammed Al Shaalan1, Maha Almuneef1, Ali Alshehri1, Hamza Alali2, Talal AlHarbi3, Nezar Alzughaibi4, Abdulaleem Alatassi5, Ahmed Haroun Mahmoud6, Talal Aljuhani6, Ahmad AlSaad6, Jubran Alqanatish1, Mohammed Aldubayee1, Amna Malik1, Asma Al Amri7, Saleh Al Shebil1, Milfi Al Onazi8, Abdullah F Al Mutrafy8, Mohamed S Al Moamary9
1 Department of Pediatrics, King Abdulaziz Medical City; College of medicine, King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Science; King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia 2 Department of Pediatrics, King Abdulaziz Medical City; King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia 3 College of medicine, King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Science; King Abdullah International Medical Research Center; Department of Pediatric Hematology Oncology, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia 4 College of medicine, King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Science; King Abdullah International Medical Research Center; Department of Pediatric Anesthesia, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia 5 College of medicine, King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Science; King Abdullah International Medical Research Center; Department of Pediatric Anesthesia; Department of Quality and Patient Safety; Department of Intensive Care, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia 6 King Abdullah International Medical Research Center; Department of Pediatric Anesthesia, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia 7 Department of Pediatrics, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia 8 College of medicine, King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Science; King Abdullah International Medical Research Center; Department of Pediatrics Emergency, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia 9 College of medicine, King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Science; King Abdullah International Medical Research Center; Department of Medicine, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Correspondence Address:
Dr. Yasser M Kazzaz Department of Pediatrics, King Abdulaziz Medical City, P.O. Box 22490, Riyadh 11426 Saudi Arabia
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/atm.ATM_212_20
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With the recent pandemic of Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19), there has been a higher number of reported cases in children more than to the prior Corona Virus-related diseases, namely, severe acute respiratory syndrome and the Middle East respiratory syndrome. The rate of COVID-19 in children is lower than adults; however, due to high transmission rate, the number of reported cases in children has been increasing. With the rising numbers among children, it is imperative to develop preparedness plans for the pediatric population at the hospital level, departmental level, and patient care areas. This paper summarizes important considerations for pediatric hospital preparedness at the hospital level that includes workforce, equipment, supply; capacity planning, and infection prevention strategies, it also span over the management of COVID-19 pediatric patients in high-risk areas such as critical care areas, Emergency Department and operative rooms.
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