Abstract
Introduction:
Based in the Northern Territory, The Centre for National Resilience, Howard Springs Quarantine Facility presented a leading, evidence-based approach to quarantine services during the COVID-19 pandemic. With a health staff team primarily consisting of nurses, the health-led model of quarantine care implemented an innovative national solution to safely accommodate over 33,000 domestic, international, humanitarian and repatriated people. This repurposed quarantine facility was considered a model of best practice in Australia with successful prevention of COVID-19 transmission from the facility into the community.
Purpose:
This project sought to determine those policies and practices which contributed to the site’s success to present an open-access quarantine guide for future use. This included reviewing the experiences of the health and axillary staff, the leadership team and the residents, noting two-thirds of health staff attending the site were nurses.
Methods:
With a translational research approach, this project implemented mixed methods to analyse the outcomes of post-closure staff and leadership team surveys and existing resident surveys. A rigorous grounded theory-based analysis was conducted on deidentified audit data and information on site functions and infrastructure from the facility’s operational period.
Results:
The outcomes of the survey and data analysis have been collated to inform a set of guidelines with practical instructions and processes for implementation in future pandemic responses. This consists of six core sections: Processes, infrastructure and communication; Infection prevention and control; Health Workforce, Resident care; Health, wellbeing and clinical care and; Government legislation and pandemic strategies.
Conclusions:
It is anticipated by establishing guidelines with applicable resources for open global access under the six core domains there can be real impact to improve future isolation and quarantine models of care for Australia and beyond. These guidelines can improve public health responses in the event of another pandemic and ultimately save lives.
Based in the Northern Territory, The Centre for National Resilience, Howard Springs Quarantine Facility presented a leading, evidence-based approach to quarantine services during the COVID-19 pandemic. With a health staff team primarily consisting of nurses, the health-led model of quarantine care implemented an innovative national solution to safely accommodate over 33,000 domestic, international, humanitarian and repatriated people. This repurposed quarantine facility was considered a model of best practice in Australia with successful prevention of COVID-19 transmission from the facility into the community.
Purpose:
This project sought to determine those policies and practices which contributed to the site’s success to present an open-access quarantine guide for future use. This included reviewing the experiences of the health and axillary staff, the leadership team and the residents, noting two-thirds of health staff attending the site were nurses.
Methods:
With a translational research approach, this project implemented mixed methods to analyse the outcomes of post-closure staff and leadership team surveys and existing resident surveys. A rigorous grounded theory-based analysis was conducted on deidentified audit data and information on site functions and infrastructure from the facility’s operational period.
Results:
The outcomes of the survey and data analysis have been collated to inform a set of guidelines with practical instructions and processes for implementation in future pandemic responses. This consists of six core sections: Processes, infrastructure and communication; Infection prevention and control; Health Workforce, Resident care; Health, wellbeing and clinical care and; Government legislation and pandemic strategies.
Conclusions:
It is anticipated by establishing guidelines with applicable resources for open global access under the six core domains there can be real impact to improve future isolation and quarantine models of care for Australia and beyond. These guidelines can improve public health responses in the event of another pandemic and ultimately save lives.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages | 85-86 |
| Number of pages | 2 |
| Publication status | Published - 10 Aug 2023 |
| Event | Australian College of Nursing, National Nursing Forum - Adelaide Convention Centre, Adelaide, Australia Duration: 9 Aug 2023 → 11 Aug 2023 |
Conference
| Conference | Australian College of Nursing, National Nursing Forum |
|---|---|
| Country/Territory | Australia |
| City | Adelaide |
| Period | 9/08/23 → 11/08/23 |
