Implementation of a Warm Zone Model During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Infection Control
• Quality Improvement

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic created challenges for healthcare staff safety and resource management.
• High rates of personal protective equipment (PPE) use and risks of self-contamination during donning and doffing were significant concerns.

Purpose of the Study:

• To enhance staff and patient safety during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• To improve workflow efficiency and conserve PPE.
• To reduce the frequency of donning and doffing PPE per shift.

Main Methods:

• Implementation of a
• warm zone model
• allowing staff to wear the same PPE between rooms of COVID-19 positive patients.
• Training staff on proper glove changes and hand hygiene between patient encounters.
• Modification and expansion of the model to critical care units.

Main Results:

• Reduced donning and doffing of PPE per shift for multidisciplinary teams.
• Maintained or increased patient room entry and exit frequency.
• Decreased daily gown usage, conserving PPE supplies.
• Reported improvements in workflow and teamwork by staff.

Conclusions:

• The warm zone model effectively improved safety and efficiency in caring for COVID-19 patients.
• This QI initiative demonstrated successful PPE conservation and enhanced staff experience.
• The model's adaptability allowed for successful implementation across different care settings.