A RESEARCH ON THE COSTS OF ENSURING EMPLOYEE HEALTH AND SAFETY DURING THE PANDEMIC PROCESS

Abstract

The aim of this research is to examine the consumption amounts and costs of personal protective equipment use (PPE) used for employee health and safety in a training and research hospital during the pandemic process in 2019 and 2020. It is a descriptive and cross-sectional study. The data used in the research were obtained from the Basic Health Statistics Module and the Hospital Information Management System. In order of years; number of outpatient visits (including dental and emergency) 2,835,105 (2019), 1,630,556 (2020), number of inpatients 71.631(2019), 47.066(2020), total number of surgeries (A, B, C, D, E) including) 70,226 (2019), 39,352 (2020). The number of PPE used in 2019 and 2020; disposable gowns from 19,000 to 105,109, goggles from 50 to 4,240, surgical mask from 274,849 to 4,703,400, N95 from 7,175 to 92,808, surgical gloves from 15,804,524 to 16,694 000, long sleeve gloves increased from 150 to 12.500. While the visor and overalls were never supplied in 2019, a large number were purchased in 2020. Hand disinfectant consumption was 19,600 liters in 2019 and 50,620 liters in 2020. The amount paid to PPE in 2019 is 644,018 TL and in 2020 it is 8,197,908 TL. According to the data obtained; Despite the decrease in the number of patients and surgeries in 2020 due to the pandemic, it is clear that there is an increase in the use of PPE. It is very important to protect employee health and safety, especially during the pandemic process. As a result, hospital administrators have important duties to provide and use PPE during the epidemic period.