From the moment the first coronavirus case was identified in Greece, the hospitals of the HYGEIA Group reacted immediately, implementing all the necessary measures in order to safeguard their facilities, thus protecting the health of their patients and employees.
The following protective measures are in place, in accordance with the guidelines issued by the World Health Organization, the Greek state and the National Public Health Organization (NPHO).
The Infection Control Committee is up to date with the current developments, implementing all the necessary protective measures according to the World Health Organization, the Greek state and the National Public Health Organization (NPHO). It aims to ensure the safety of the patients, the visitors, and the employees.
As per the National Public Health Organization (NPHO) guidelines, visits to patients are prohibited. Exceptions are made in special cases and only following the written approval and instructions of the treating physician, allowing just one (1) visitor or carer per patient.
The temperature of all incoming visitors is taken at the HYGEIA entrance and access to the building is denied if the body temperature is above 37.0⁰C.
What applies for carers:
All carers are required to wear masks and remain in the patient’s room throughout their visit.
When in common areas, they should keep safe distances (> 1.5m).
Only up to 2 people at a time are permitted to ride the elevators.
With the outbreak of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, A-Lab, the HHG Molecular Biology and Genetics Center, has become a critical component of the process. Responding to the needs of all the hospitals of the HYGEIA Group, A-Lab immediately proceeded with providing molecular detection of the new virus strain, which is the only method that offers a fast and reliable result.
All samples collected at the hospitals of the HYGEIA Group are treated as potentially infectious and, consequently, all the necessary protective and spread preventive measures are applied throughout the processes of collecting, packaging, storage and sample transfer. The professionals participating in the entire sample management process wear personal protective equipment.
Triple packaging is used when transferring the clinical samples to the lab, which is located outside the hospital premises.
Once the samples are received by the lab, the viral RNA is isolated and polymerase chain reaction with reverse transcription is applied to amplify two different targets of the SARS-CoV-2 viral genome. The test is concluded within 3 to 4 hours from the time the samples are received by the lab.
Find out more about SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus testing here
Apart from the entry checks, patients visiting the Hospital for laboratory/imaging examinations (i.e. blood tests, CT scans, ultrasounds, etc.) must wear a mask and must have had their temperature taken before entering the Hospital areas. If their body temperature is higher than 37.0⁰C, they are not permitted to enter the Hospital and the investigation process is followed.
For patients entering through the Emergency Department, the COVID-19 test is performed at the Department.
All oncology patients visiting the One-Day Clinic have their temperature and medical history taken and undergo a physical exam before starting treatment, and must wear a protective face mask.
For patients in need of surgery, the attending physician acquires a detailed medical history, which is signed by the patient. Sample collection for COVID-19 is performed as part of the preoperative check-up, 1 to 3 days before admission, so that there is ample time for the tests results to be issued.
Emergency surgery of outpatients presenting at the Emergency Department or emergency invasive diagnostic tests (such as gastrointestinal bleeding, coronary angiography in AMI, etc.) are performed immediately due to the medical emergency. However, sample for COVID-19 testing is collected and patients are treated as positive without waiting for the results. All the protective measures are taken and they are hospitalized in a special area until the test result is issued.
COVID-19 testing is performed on all patients arriving at our hospitals, so as to confirm they are negative to the SARS-CoV-2 virus, and ensure the safety of other inpatients and the hospital staff.
Until the result is issued, patients are hospitalized in a special area for suspicious cases, where all the required safety measures are ensured.
If the test is negative, they are transferred to another hospitalization area. If the test is positive, the authorities are immediately notified, and the patients are transferred to the reference hospitals.
For patients (with a negative COVID-19 test) who are already hospitalized over 6 days without having been labeled as suspicious cases and have to undergo an invasive procedure, the Infectious Disease Specialist, along with the attending physician, decides whether a new sample should be collected for COVID-19 testing.