Risk Reduction of Healthcare Workers’ Exposure to COVID-19 using Failure Mode and Effect Analysis

Abstract

Background: The exposure to COVID-19 by staff has a major impact on healthcare system.\nObjective: identify potential failures related to the exposure of HCWs to COVID-19, evaluate the potential causes and effects, and the actions to mitigate the risk of exposure.\nMethods: Members of the infection control department, quality department, nursing department, and medical administration were selected as team members to conduct the Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (FMEA). The identification of potential failure modes, causes and effects was conducted in consecutive meetings. Accordingly, were identified actions to reduce the staff exposure to COVID-19.\nResults: The description of the complex process was conducted including the potential in-hospital and hospital-community interaction for transmission of infection to staff. In eight areas were identified 20 potential failure modes: Hand hygiene, personal protective equipment, detection of sick staff, exposure in common areas, hiring new staff, staff living conditions, and staff knowledge, skill, and perceptions about all other infection control practices. The highest ranked priorities were identified including improper PPE use (556 points), late detection of sick staff (520 points), and poor compliance with infection control practices in common areas (436 points) respectively. The mitigation strategies focused on a wide range of actions to improve the staff education, improve practices and procedures, monitor practices and feedback to staff in a continuous quality improvement cycle.\nConclusion: Data presented provides a comprehensive evaluation of the risks and mitigation measures to prevent the staff exposure to COVID-19 conducted in a high-risk environment by a qualified FMEA team.\n\nKeywords: failure modes and effect analysis; quality management; risk mitigation; staff exposure; COVID-19; Qatar;