Decision No. 4999/QD-BYT dated December 01, 2020 on promulgating criteria for clinics safe from COVID-19 and epidemics of acute respiratory infections

DECISION

PROMULGATING CRITERIA FOR CLINICS SAFE FROM COVID-19 AND EPIDEMICS OF ACUTE RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS

MINISTER OF HEALTH

Pursuant to the Law on Medical Examination and Treatment dated November 23, 2009;

Pursuant to the Government’s Decree No. 75/2017/ND-CP dated June 20, 2017 on functions, duties, powers and organizational structure of the Ministry of Health;  

At the request of the Head of Medical Services Administration, Ministry of Health,

HEREBY DECIDES:

Article 1.Promulgated together with this Decision are the criteria for clinics safe from COVID-19 and epidemics of acute respiratory infections.

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Article 3.Head of Medical Services Administration shall take charge of provide guidelines for implementation of these criteria, direct, inspect, monitor and supervise such implementation; and submit a consolidated report on self-assessment results of clinics to the Minister of Health.

Article 4.This Decision takes effect from the date on which it is signed.

Article 5.Head of Medical Services Administration, Chief of the Ministry Office, Chief Inspector of the Ministry of Health; heads of departments affiliated to the Ministry of Health; directors of Departments of Health, heads of relevant units; heads of health units of other ministries and central authorities, and heads of clinics shall implement this Decision./.

P.P. THE MINISTER
THE DEPUTY MINISTER




Nguyen Truong Son

CRITERIA FOR CLINICS SAFE FROM COVID-19 AND EPIDEMICS OF ACUTE RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS

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From December 2019, the appearance and spread of COVID-19 around the world have deeply affected all aspects of our daily life. As of November 2020, the world records 63 million cases and 1,4 million deaths.

To date, Vietnam has accomplished very important feats in COVID-19 prevention, control and treatment. However, the pandemic is progressing unpredictably around the world and Vietnam is still facing high risk, especially in winter - spring, on year-end holidays, etc.

Therefore, hospitals and all healthcare stations and clinics shall identify their risks and must not lower their guard or underestimate the pandemic. The healthcare establishment system needs to adopt and maintain precautionary measures in a more vigorous manner.

In the healthcare establishment system, clinics are the first facilities to receive patients, thus, facing high risk of COVID-19 and epidemics of other acute respiratory infections. Clinics have a role in detecting suspected cases early and bear the responsibility for safe medical examination to prevent the disease from spreading between patients and healthcare workers and to the community.

Thus, the Ministry of Health promulgates these criteria for clinics safe from COVID-19 and epidemics of acute respiratory infections for clinics to assess themselves and reduce the risks immediately. These criteria shall provide the activities necessary to establish safe clinics and serve as the bases for assessment and self-assessment of the safety of clinics during the COVID-19 pandemic and in case of epidemics of other acute respiratory infections. Clinics shall formulate a plan for resolution of issues detected during assessment to ensure and maintain the safety of their operations.

COVID-19 prevention and control calls for the participation of the whole system, ministries, regulatory bodies as well as the community. If provinces/cities and clinics across the country adopt the criteria for clinics safe from COVID-19 and epidemics of acute respiratory infections properly, they will contribute significantly to the fight against COVID-19, maintain stable operation of the healthcare system in particular and of the community in general, and help achieve the dual targets as directed by the Prime Minister.

PROMULGATING CRITERIA FOR CLINICS SAFE FROM COVID-19 AND EPIDEMICS OF ACUTE RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS

Criterion

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Maximum score

Self-assessment score

Criterion 1

Formulation of operational plans in cases of epidemics of acute respiratory infections (3 points)

1.1

The clinic has an operational plan for when there is no epidemic of acute respiratory infection in the community but the risk of infection remains.

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1.2

The clinic has an operational plan for when an epidemic of an acute respiratory infection is spreading in the community.

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1.3

The operational plans contain details on reporting, referring suspected cases to other safe healthcare establishments and safe transport assurance.

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Criterion 2

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2.1

Clinic staff have received training in epidemic prevention and control.

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2.2

Clinic staff have joined training in screening of COVID-19 or epidemics of other acute respiratory infections organized by the local government and health authority.

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2.3

There is a procedure for first aid for patients with respiratory failure signs and healthcare workers have received training in this procedure.

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2.4

Healthcare workers present and follow the procedure for first aid for patients with respiratory failure signs properly.

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Criterion 3

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3.1

A patient receipt and classification desk is located at the entrance to the clinic.

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3.2

Screen patients suspected of a respiratory disease and epidemiological factors, and ensure that 100% of patients are screened.

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3.3

Give instructions on electronic health declaration to patients and their companies and inspect the declaration made.

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3.4

Give out (or sell) face masks to patients visiting the clinic without a facemask.

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3.5

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1

3.6

Give appointments by phone or/and online, avoid mass gatherings in the clinic.

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Criterion 4

Compliance with regulations on use of face masks (3 points)

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4.1

There are instructions on use of facemasks in the clinic through different forms of communications such as posters, bandrolls and television.

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4.2

100% of workers in areas having contact with patients wear face masks according to regulations.

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4.3

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Criterion 5

Cleaning of frequently touched surfaces and restroom management (4 points)

5.1

Hand sanitizer is adequately provided at the entrance to the clinic and locations frequently touched by patients, patients’ families and healthcare workers (doorknobs, elevators, etc.).

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5.2

There are regulations stipulating cleaning of frequently touched surfaces using a suitable measure according to existing regulations (at least 1 time/part of the day during epidemic and at least 1 time/day when there is no epidemic), which are complied with.

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5.3

The clinic has a separate restroom and does not share any restroom with surrounding residential areas.

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5.4

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Criterion 6

Clinic facilities (5 points)

6.1

The structure of the clinic ensures natural ventilation and has at least 2 unobstructed sides (e.g., window opening to door, etc.).

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6.2

Measures for ventilation enhancement are taken such as installing more ventilation fans to blow air out of the clinic.

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6.3

Ensure that a healthcare worker and a patient are at least 1 meter apart when they sit down to talk.

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6.4

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6.5

There are hand washing basins with soap.

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Criterion 7

Stockpile of equipment for epidemic prevention and control (3 points)

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7.1

Ensure adequate stockpile of medical masks, medical gloves and face shields for use in the clinic for at least 3 weeks depending on the clinic’s size.

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7.2

Ensure adequate stockpile of alcoholic hand sanitizer, disinfectants and antipyretic drugs for use for at least 3 weeks depending on the clinic’s size.

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7.3

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Criterion 8

Health monitoring for healthcare workers (2 points)

8.1

Clinic staff shall monitor their health conditions and immediately report to the clinic manager upon development of any sign of an acute respiratory infection.

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8.2

Clinic staff developing a sign of an acute respiratory infection are screened for COVID-19 or other acute respiratory infections and precautions are taken.

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TOTAL

30

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MAIN VIEWPOINTS

Clinics need to ensure the safety and efficiency of their operations during the COVID-19 pandemic and in the event of potential epidemics of acute respiratory infections in the community.

1. OBJECTIVES

1.1. General objectives

Provide clinics with guidelines on activities for prevention and control of COVID-19 and epidemics of acute respiratory infections and proper response to epidemic risk factors.

1.2. Specific objectives

1. Provide the tools for assessment of each clinic’s capacity for prevention and control of COVID-19 and epidemics of acute respiratory infections and make such assessment.

2. Identify issues of priority to ensure the safety of clinic operations and protect patients and healthcare workers from infection.

3. Protect patients, patients’ families and healthcare workers from community transmission of COVID-19 and acute respiratory infections and cross infection in clinics.

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2. IMPLEMENTATION

2.1. Assessment time

Each clinic shall consider and compare the criteria’s content with its current situation and make self-assessments on a monthly basis. If there is risk of community infection or after the clinic has taken steps to improve its safety, it shall make a reassessment.

Clinics shall upload all assessment results onto the online software.

2.2. Composition of assessment team

Internal assessment:

- Clinic head;

- Clinic staff.

Assessment by supervisory authority (district-level healthcare authority, Department of Health, etc.)

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- Assessment specialists.

2.3. Self-assessment procedure

Step 1: Before the assessment: members of the assessment team study the criteria’s content to understand its meaning and the assessment method.

Step 2: Meeting for finalization of the assessment procedures: the team leader presides over a meeting where team members discuss and finalize the assessment content and method.

Step 3: Make the assessment.

Step 4: Post-assessment meeting: after the assessment is completed, the team leader convenes the whole team to finalize the assessment results and recommendations.

Step 5: Activities to be carried out by the clinic after the assessment:

- Formulate a plan for enhancement of the clinic’s epidemic prevention capacity.

- Upload assessment results to https://cosoyte.vn

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- Formulate a plan to address the issues.

- Adopt intervention solutions to increase the clinic’s epidemic prevention capacity and ensure that the clinic’s operations are safe from potential epidemics in the community.

2.4. Assessment method and result classification

- There are 8 criteria.

- The maximum score is 30 points.

- Each subsection shall be given a pass or a fail.

- Each passed subsection shall be given 1 point.

- The score of each criterion shall be the total score of all subsections. If none of the subsections of a criterion earns a point, the criterion scores 0.

- Result classification:

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+ Clinic with low safety level: total score from 20 to 24 points.

+ Unsafe clinic: total score under 20 points.

During the self-assessment process, clinics should send feedback and propositions concerning the assessment content and procedure and relevant matters to Medical Services Administration. Medical Services Administration will consolidate and study such feedback and propositions to improve the assessment content, method and practicality.