Screening rolled-out to help businesses get back to work
Published: 20 July, 2020
Global healthcare and security risk services provider, International SOS,hasd announced it is rolling out a new screening service to help get people back to work.
Using its expertise and the experience gained in delivering rapid screening for over 25,000 offshore workers during lock-down, it is making the service available to businesses in all sectors.
As the leading provider of healthcare services to the energy industry, International SOS quickly set up and mobilised a large team to carry out temperature and vulnerability screening, as well as clinical support staff to sites across the north east of Scotland. This ensured that essential offshore workers were safe to work during lock-down.
As a result, the company has developed robust procedures and services which can support businesses in all sectors as lockdown is eased and people return to work. These include risk assessments, infection control procedures and testing, and the provision of an entry screening service.
Laura Kennedy, Covid-19 coordinator/clinical project manager at International SOS said: “Overnight our clinics’ focus changed to deal with the evolving coronavirus crisis. Our point of entry (PoE) screening service was an entirely new one and we were required to mobilise this swiftly and efficiently.
“International SOS is uniquely placed to support and assist businesses across the UK in protecting their staff and customers,” explained Mrs Kennedy.
“Our support teams of nurses are out twice a day, working 12-hour shifts, seven days a week. The entire PoE group then meets twice per week via zoom call for a de-brief and we use this time to discuss and share any case scenarios or lessons learnt.”
As lockdown restrictions continue to ease, the occupational healthcare provider has turned its attention on how best to manage safe return to operations. Focus has shifted to risk assessment, site checklists and safe zoning of facilities as well as considering the mental health of workers who have been in lockdown for months.
In addition, the healthcare specialist is now pleased to also offer an accredited and validated Covid-19 PCR (polymerase chain reaction) testing service.
Dr Louise Slaney, medical director at International SOS said: “We are providing ‘gold standard’ PCR testing in conjunction with our CMED service for category C symptomatic patients. This will ensure any symptomatic personnel are able to be tested prior to travelling home to self-isolate, without the requirement for an overnight stay.
“We offer validated PCR testing from our three clinics in Scotland and our clinic in Teesside, at customer premises or from the employees’ home. Except for home testing, results are available within 60 minutes of testing of up to 32 samples, or within 30 minutes for single tests allowing us to provide a COVID-19 certificate at the time of attendance.
“Home testing provides a result within 48 hours, a kit is delivered by courier to the home, an International SOS nurse provides video support for taking the swab, and a courier then collects and transports the swab directly to the laboratory, providing a result within 48 hours – often within 6 hours of arrival at the laboratory.”
Dr Slaney continued: “The size of our business and breadth of services available have allowed us to mobilise and support clients across numerous industries during this unprecedented period in history. As we move into the next phase of the pandemic and the roadmap out of it, we will continue to adopt and adapt new initiatives and procedures to support the health needs of our clients.”
