The art and science of achieving zero COVID-19 transmissions in staff at a large community care facility in Singapore using implementation science: a retrospective analysis

Background: The Singapore COVID-19 multi-ministry taskforce commissioned community care facilities (CCFs) as a hospital-sparing strategy amidst rising coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases. An exhibition centre was repurposed within ten days as an ad-hoc 3200-bed medical facility (CCF@EXPO) to isolate and treat infected patients amidst concerns of potential COVID-19 transmissions to healthcare staff. This paper deconstructs the implementation of the CCF@EXPO infection prevention and control (IPC) innovation and elicits critical factors which enabled zero transmission of COVID-19 to staff during 100 days of operation using an implementation science framework. Methods: : This study employed retrospective analysis using the integrated Promoting Action on Research Implementation in Health Services (i-PARIHS) framework. The CCF@EXPO IPC innovation comprised five key elements: (a) physical environment, (b) work practices, (c) tools and technology, (d) staff training, and (e) audits. Contextual assessment was conducted for baseline and 100 th day of CCF@EXPO operations. Actions taken to improve scores between these timepoints were mapped against the Expert Recommendations for Implementing Change (ERIC) tool to surface key implementation strategies. Results: : Positive shifts were observed in all constructs of the i-PARIHS framework, between baseline and 100 th day. The largest shifts were in work practices, tools and technology, and staff training. Key implementation strategies used included: rapid Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycles, identifying champions, team building, creating a culture of collaborative learning, multi-disciplinary teamwork, transparency in communications and decision-making, and skillful facilitation. Conclusions: : Rapid PDSA cycles anchored by principles to ensure staff safety, was the key approach used in implementation of the CCF@EXPO IPC innovation. Retrospective analysis using the i-PARIHS framework is useful to elicit success factors and to inform preparedness planning of future pandemics.