CAPITOL MEDICAL CENTER, INC.

Quezon Avenue Corner, Scout Magbanua

Brgy. Paligsahan, Quezon City, Philippines
Tel No. 372-3825 loc. 2135
E-mail: medicalservice@capitolmedical.org

CMC – DMO – MEMO 2020 – 28

Date : June 8, 2020

To : All Department Chairs, Heads Ancillary Service

Nursing Division & Administrative Division
MSO

From : MA. LUISA ACU, MD

Section, Ob-Gyn Ultrasound

Noted by : LILIA P. LUNA, MHA, FPOGS

Medical Director

Subject : INTERIM GUIDELINES FOR COVID-19 IN OB-GYN ULTRASOUND

OPERATING HOURS:
➢ The Section of OB-GYN Ultrasound will observe the following Operating Hours from
Monday to Saturday starting June 1, 2020 with strictly one ultrasound scanner per shift:
o 8:00 to 12nn AM/Morning Shift
o 1:00pm to 5:00pm PM/Afternoon Shift
o 12nn to 1pm Lunch Break and Disinfection
o 5:00pm to 6:00pm Disinfection
o Closed on Sundays and Holidays
➢ There will only be one OB-Sonologist per shift and operating hours will be strictly
followed.

SCHEDULING IS ON A BY APPOINTMENT BASIS:

➢ The section will start acceptingall cases, except 3D-4D and HSSG which aretime-
consuming special procedures. All procedures to be accepted need tobe booked in
advance (1-7days) thru our Section Secretary/Clerk starting June 1, 2020.To follow strict
physical distancing, a limited number of patientswill be seen per day.
 o The attending OB-GYN, secretaries or the patient herself (or relative) shall call the
Section during office hours to schedule an appointment. Patients will be advised
to call, at the latest, a day beforeto secure a slot.
o All patientsmust initially be screened by their corresponding attending OB’s
making sure they go thru basic Triage protocols, including filling up of the Health
Disclosure Triage Tool, thermal scan and wearing of mandatory face masks.
o We will serve 2-3 patients per hour, an average of 10 to 12 patients per shift or
16- 24 per day. (Number may increase later on after re-evaluation of patient-flow.)
o Scheduled patients will be given the priority. “Chance” patients who come
directly from the doctor’s clinics (previously screened), may be accommodated if a
free slot is available and if time permits. Otherwise, they will have to make a
prioritized appointment on other days.
o Patients who need to be scanned for emergent reasons (coming from the AP’s
clinic, LR or ER) without prior schedule may be given a slot. However, this should
be properly explained by the clerk or sonologist to the patients on queue.
o If a patient is more than 30 minutes late from her schedule, she may be accepted,
if time permits, and provided the patients who came during their set appointment
are given priority.
o No companion is allowed inside the examination room unless she is non-
ambulatory. Only one companion is allowed inside the waiting area. Social scans
or video filming is discouraged as this may prolong examination time and hamper
the flow of work.

STAT CASES:
➢ Procedures requested starting 5:01pm until 7:59am will be considered “stat” and will
incur additional fees. The list of Sonologist-On-Deck will be available at the Delivery
Room, thru the OB- Residents.
➢ Patientswithout a previous appointment schedule for the day but insist to have their
procedure done will be accommodated as “stat” case after all appointments are served.

PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT:

➢ In anticipation of possible asymptomatic carriers, all OB Sonologists and Staff (Fellow,
Clerk, Resident Rotator) in direct contact with the patient are required to wear minimum
Level 3 protective equipment (kN95 mask, gown, face shield or goggles, gloves, haircap
and booties) during scanning hours.
➢ If patient is a known COVID-19 positive patient, suspect, probable or PUI, only the
assigned OB Sonologist should see the patient, wearing the required full Level 4
protective equipment (N95 mask, hazmat with scrub suit underneath, face shield or
goggles, gloves, haircap and booties).
➢ These PPE’s should be provided and ready at the start of each shift.
➢ Any OB-Sonologist, Fellow, OB Resident Rotator or Staff unknowingly exposed to a COVID
(+) patient should follow strict infectious control protocols and undergo mandatory 14-
day quarantine.
➢ Additional fees for use of PPE’s and disinfection have been included to the new rates, as
computed by the billing section. This must be explained by the attending OB-GYN to her
patient.
 ➢ All OB- Sonologists should change gloves, wash hands or use alcohol after each patient.
The bed will be disinfected and cleared by the Clerk to prepare for the next patient’s use.
All probes, both transvaginal and transabdominal probes need to be covered with probe
cover or condom.
➢ Used gowns, gloves and masks are treated as infectious and should be doffed properly in
designated areas.

FLOW OF OUT- PATIENT:

1. Patient will be pre-screened at the clinic level by her attending OB-GYN or secretary
and cleared. Appointment is set thru the OB- Ultrasound Section Clerk/Secretary.
2. On the day and time of appointment, the patient goes thru the Triage Process,
registers at the Central Registration at the Lower Ground lobby and brings her Triage
Tool to the Section.
3. Patient comes in on the day, at least 30minutes before appointment, already with her
HMO-LOA, as necessary.
4. Patient reports to the 4TH Floor OB-GYN Ultrasound Section and approaches the Clerk
to confirm her appointment.
5. Patient enters examining room while companion sits at the waiting lounge, observing
physical distancing.For private, non-HMO patients, the companion will handle
payment, ideally cashless, if possible.
6. An accompanying person may be allowed to assist a patient (wheelchair -borne or
with special needs) inside the examination area.
7. While the current patient is undergoing the procedure, the next patient is called from
the waiting area at the corridor of the Section and asked to enter the unit to dress up
and empty her bladder. The next in line is informed that she will be next on queue.
Only a maximum of 6 patients including companions are allowed at any one time in
the waiting lounge.
8. Regarding release of results, the patient and companion are asked to wait outside the
section for the resultswhich usually takes 15-20minutes.

FLOW OF IN-PATIENT:
1. The OB-Resident on Duty properly assesses the admitted patient as non-COVID,
suspect, probable or positive.
2. The OB-Resident on Duty properly endorses and informs the OB-Sonologist on-duty of
the case, and the reason for the ultrasound procedure.
3. Non-COVID patients will be given the earliest slot for ultrasound in the morning while
COVID positive, probable, and suspect will be the last patients to be scanned for the
day.
4. The OB-Sonologist, Fellow, OB Resident and Staff should adhere to strict ICC protocols
on PPE.

**It will be in the best interest of all concerned if the attending OB-GYN’s explain to their
patients these new Interim Guidelines to avoid miscommunication and low patient satisfaction.
SCHEDULE OF OB-SONOLOGISTS starting June 1, 2020 and until further notice:

Monday: AM Shift Dr. S. del Rosario

PM Shift Dr. L. Acu

Tuesday: AM Shift Dr. C. Chua

PM Shift Dr. E. Flores

Wednesday: AM Shift Dr. C. Martinez

PM Shift Dr. A. Mallari

Thursday: AM Shift Dr. C. Chua

PM Shift Dr. E. Flores

Friday: AM Shift Dr. A. Mallari

PM Shift Dr. S. del Rosario

Saturday: AM Shift Dr. L. Acu

PM Shift Dr. C. Domingo

**Note: OB-Ultrasound section will be transferred to 2ND Floor, CMC 5 after two weeks once
transfer is completed.