Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the work of urological departments

BACKGROUND: The pandemic of a new coronavirus infection has had a significant impact on the work of the entire medical service, including urological departments.

AIM: to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the work of urological departments in private and public medical institutions.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: We assessed the impact of the restrictions imposed by the pandemic on the work of the urology department of a private clinic (MC Avicenna, Novosibirsk) and the urogenital department of the Novosibirsk Research Institute of Tuberculosis for 2019 and 2020. We assessed the change in the range of surgical interventions, as well as the structure visits to the urologist.

RESULTS: The urogenital department of the Novosibirsk Research Institute of Tuberculosis in March 2020 was redesigned into an observational one. The Avicenna Medical Center also established the procedure for anti-epidemic measures, which made it possible not only not to reduce, but in a number of positions to increase the volume of surgical care provided.

CONCLUSION: Thus, thanks to anti-epidemic measures: separation of flows, introduction of mandatory testing of patients, early detection of patients and carriers among employees, mask regimen, opening of an observational department, single rooms, lack of contact between patients, short stays, it was possible to prevent an outbreak of infection among patients and staff. Both in the municipal and private urological clinics, well-organized work did not allow the negative impact of the pandemic to manifest itself.