Many health-care workers and support staff from the region have staffed the COVID-19 Assessment Centre since it opened on March 13. To date, more than 10,000 patients have been diverted from local emergency departments.

Collaboration between TOH, CHEO, OPH, EORLA, CHCs, the City and others makes it happen

From a working public arena covered in ice, to a fully-functioning medical facility in just three-and-a-half days, the COVID-19 Assessment Centre at Brewer Park Arena has now assessed more than 10,000 patients since it opened on March 13—one of many assessment centres that together form Eastern Ontario's response to COVID-19.

The Ottawa Hospital and CHEO activated staff from a variety of departments to make this assessment centre a reality. It is the latest example of extraordinary teamwork and the ability to quickly meet the urgent and changing needs of the community.

"We are sprinting to prepare Eastern Ontario for the effects of COVID-19 and an early step was the creation of the Assessment Centre," said Dr. Andrew Willmore, Medical Director for the Ottawa Hospital's Department of Emergency Management and Incident Commander for the Champlain Health Region. "This phase of the response successfully took pressure off all of Ottawa's emergency departments and is a big part of the effort to reduce local transmission in our community."

Hospital leaders and health officials conducted a thorough site visit of the Brewer Arena before any equipment was put in place. The goal was to plan details like patient flow and other elements of staff and patient safety.

"It's truly amazing what we've been able to accomplish here," said Dr. John Brewer, physician at The Ottawa Hospital. "Everyone from hospital and community doctors and nurses to administrators, IS professionals and environmental service professionals have come together to help and serve our community."

Constant and open communication between teams has been crucial to make the Assessment Centre run safely, smoothly and efficiently. Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) teams from The Ottawa Hospital and leaders from CHEO lead a 'morning huddle' at 8 a.m. each day for all staff at the Assessment Centre.

"The purpose of a huddle is to talk about all things safety," said Natalie Bruce, Manager of Infection Prevention and Control at The Ottawa Hospital. "It's a chance for IPAC to impart information about staff safety, such as demonstrating proper donning and doffing of personal protective equipment. It's also a chance for everyone to discuss how we can improve the way we do things so that we can continue delivering care safely to patients."

Fast and efficient knowledge transfer through the morning huddle, on-site learning and the debriefing at the end of the day is a big reason why the staff at the Assessment Centre have been able to become so efficient in such a short amount of time.

"With so many new clerks coming in every day, we are running on a peer learning system," said Courtney Batista, Supervisor of Medical Imaging and head of the clerks at the COVID-19 Assessment Centre. "Everyone is your friend here. The more we work together the more patients we can get through in a day."

In addition to efficiency, significant focus was organizing the centre to promote a positive experience for patients. Ample signage, a clear process and consistent communication between staff and the public at the centre support The Ottawa Hospital's vision of providing compassionate care.

While less than 10 percent of visits to the Assessment Centre have been made by children and youth, CHEO committed to be a partner to make it easier for families to get tested in one outing. CHEO is known for its kid-friendly pediatric expertise, a reassurance to children, youth and their families during these stressful times. This approach includes appropriately-sized equipment and weight-based fever management instructions, along with a small toy or prize to recognize the bravery of the youngest patients facing the unpleasant swabbing experience.

This article originially appeared here.