Author(s): The Academy of Filipino Neurosurgeons, Inc.

Abstract:

1. Recommendations For Reopening of Outpatient Clinics During The COVID-19 Pandemic In anticipation of the lifting of the Extended Community Quarantine in many areas of the Philippines, and the state of General Community Quarantine now in the rest of the country, most hospitals and stand-alone Outpatient Doctors’ Clinics have already set protocols for the safe resumption of outpatient services. Each neurosurgeon should formulate his/her own clinic policies based on prevailing general principles of safety during this COVID-19 pandemic, with these clinic policies in line with the policies of the hospital and its Outpatient Department and Doctor’s Clinics. The following recommendations for reopening of outpatient clinics, although not exhaustive, are summary of recommendations from various sources and are based on the PCS Guidelines on Post-ECQ Resumption of Elective Surgeries and Outpatient Clinics.
   1. Prior to Clinic Visit
   2. Clinic Physical Set-up
   3. Clinic Protocol
   4. Physician and Secretary
2. Recommendations For Patients For Elective Surgery The following are recommendations in preparing a patient for elective surgery and are mostly adopted from the PCS GUIDELINES ON POST-ECQ RESUMPTION OF ELECTIVE SURGERIES AND OUTPATIENT CLINICS dated April 20, 2020.
   1. Timing of Surgery
   2. Pre-operative Screening for COVID-19
   3. Special Recommendations for Patients Undergoing Elective Transsphenoidal Pituitary Surgery or Other Trans-nasal/ Trans-oropharyngeal Neurosurgical Approaches.

Key words: Reopening of Outpatient Clinics, patient for elective surgery

DOI: https://doi.org/10.61662/PCS_ndgg9513