Outcomes of Standard Operating Procedures Instituted for Non-COVID Outpatient Department During COVID-19 Pandemic in Rural India

INTRODUCTION: COVID-19 has emerged as a major health care problem during 2020. The risk of infection and transmission led to imposition of a severe lockdown by the government. The diversion of health care machinery towards the control of transmission, treatment of the infected individuals led to a compromise in delivery of care towards non-COVID ailments. This is truer in rural and unapproachable areas where the health facilities were already in jeopardy. STUDY DESIGN: A prospective observational study was conducted from May 2020 to November 2020 at PGIMER satellite center, Sangrur. METHODS: Standard operating procedures (SOP) were instituted for physical consultation during the COVID-19 pandemic at PGIMER satellite center, Sangrur, a branch of PGIMER, Chandigarh. These were approved by the committee constituted for this purpose. The effectiveness of these SOPs was reported as percentage of healthcare workers who contracted infection for non-COVID OPD. RESULTS: A total of 9963 patients attended the Out Patient Department (OPD). Male to female ratio of the patients was 1.2:1. Maximum (6141) consultations were sought for general physician followed by ophthalmologist (1464). Majority of the consultation were for benign non-communicable disorders. Seventy patients who visited the OPD were referred for COVID-19 testing as they had symptoms of infection. A total of 5 (3.8%) incidents of COVID-19 infection were reported among the healthcare workers at the center. CONCLUSIONS: The SOPs proved effective in the delivery of physical care with low occupational hazard to the healthcare workers (HCW).