In March 2020, the COVID-19 outbreak enforced the initiation of the Hospital Emergency Plan in Belgian hospitals. The anesthesiology department of the Cliniques universitaires Saint-Luc (CUSL) was invited to develop strategies designed to adapt the workflow at an ever increasing pace and ensure an optimal provision of care. Among these strategies was the reorganization of the operating room and maternity department, along with their respective staff, introduction of personal protective equipment, formulation of guidelines for anesthetic management, as well as simulation exercises in order to train and prepare staff. These measures were deemed necessary in order to assure the quality of care and reduce the risk of transmission to other patients or healthcare workers.
Key Words
COVID-19, anesthesia, organization, protection, research