Preventing COVID-19 Infection in Mental Health Units: Recommendations for Best Practices.

Preventing COVID-19 Infection in Mental Health Units: Recommendations for Best Practices.
Issues Ment Health Nurs. 2020 Sep 17;:1-7
Authors: Quidley-Rodriguez N, de Tantillo L
Abstract
Mental health facilities should be equipped to care for patients while preventing spread of COVID-19. Peer-reviewed literature and guidelines for government and health organizations were reviewed to guide best practices. Gunderson's five therapeutic functions of a milieu are used as a conceptual framework. Patients should be screened for infection according to local or national policy prior to admission to an inpatient mental health unit. While interacting with one another in a therapeutic milieu, patients should be encouraged to practice physical distancing and hand hygiene. Clinicians may need to alter therapeutic groups to prevent COVID-19 infection. Additionally, clinicians should monitor patients for emerging symptoms and conduct rapid testing and isolation of patients suspected of COVID-19. Recommendations are made for patients unable to adhere to physical distancing or hand hygiene policies.
PMID: 32940542 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Source: Issues in Mental Health Nursing - September 19, 2020 Category: Nursing Tags: Issues Ment Health Nurs Source Type: research