Twenty-four COVID-19-related deaths have been reported in Vietnam so far. Most were with many underlying medical conditions...
Twenty-four COVID-19-related deaths have been reported in Vietnam so far. Most were with many underlying medical conditions. Khanh Hoa General Hospital has proactively taken various measures to protect the vulnerable group of patients.
Proactive disease preventive measures to avoid cross contamination
There are many elderly patients in the Department of Cardiology & Geriatrics, Khanh Hoa General Hospital. Most are with underlying medical conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes and cardiological diseases which expose themselves to increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19. Since this August, preventive measures such as body temperature checks, mandatory use of masks, cleaning and disinfection of rooms (2-3 times/ day) and strict hand hygiene with hand sanitizers available along corridors and inside patient rooms.
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Dr. Vo Vinh Son, Head of the Department of Cardiology & Geriatrics, Khanh Hoa General Hospital says, together with the above measures, patients, their families and medical staff are required to complete health declaration every day. Screening, separation, isolation and treatment procedures have been assured for patients suspected with COVID-19. To reduce overload and prevent cross contamination, mild patients are discharged with follow-up schedules. Many elderly patients are also aware of the risks and choose to stay at home and get medication and care guidance given by doctors. Therefore, in-patients have decreased by 30 - 40%, down to 160 – 170 patents/ day from 260 - 290 patients/ day.
At the Department of Emergency, disease prevention measures with the cleaning and disinfection of floors, handrails and doorknobs have been boosted. The supply of medicines and chemicals has been increased to make them available for use to minimize cross contamination. Dialysis for patients with kidney failure is divided into 4 shifts a day with specific time to reduce overload and prevent crowding.
Supplies available on site
Nguyen Thi Mai (Suoi Hiep Commune, Dien Khanh District) has been attending to her mother aged over 80 at the Department of Cardiology & Geriatrics for 2 weeks now. She is regularly warned of disease prevention during the unprecedented COVID-19 outbreak. Therefore, she and other patients’ family members have abided by preventive regulations at the hospital. She says they know that the older are at higher risk for catching the virus and they feel safe and secure with the preventive measures at the hospital.
Since the COVID-19 resurgence in late July, Khanh Hoa General Hospital has resumed the disease prevention system. Accordingly, all patients and their families are required to fill in health declaration, undergo temperature checks, wear masks and wash hands with hand sanitizers available at the gates. Patient visitation is also restricted. Each patient has only one caregiver during this period. More physical staff is mobilized to give examination to reduce waiting time. Those with mild diseases are counseled to stay at home and take medications prescribed by doctors and given telephone numbers for contacts when necessary.
Apart from preventive measures, more than 1,200 bottles of hand sanitizer and 20 automatic hand sanitizer dispensers are available within the hospital for use. Especially, a makeshift isolation and operation area has been placed on standby with 40 beds for any cases suspected with COVID-19.
Khanh Hoa General Hospital has just received a Qiasymphony SP system with the testing capacity of up to 300 samples/ day, helping speed up COVID-19 detection and diagnosis to promptly contain the virus, according to Doctor Phan Huu Chinh, Director of Khanh Hoa General Hospital.
C.Dan
Translated by N.T
