In parallel with early detecting COVID-19 infections, the Da Nang healthcare sector has focused on strengthening protocols and deploying new techniques to effectively treat COVID-19 patients. Thanks to this, the city has, over recent times, seen a daily increase in the number of recoveries from this highly contagious disease.

Over recent times, many patients with serious comorbid conditions have been discharged from the Da Nang Lung Hospital following good recovery from the disease. Photo: PHAN CHUNG

Three-tiered COVID-19 treatment model adopted

Doctor Tran Thanh Thuy, Deputy Director of the Department of Health, said that Da Nang is currently practising the three-tiered COVID-19 treatment model under the guidance of the Ministry of Health with the aim to reduce the number of critically ill patients and death rates caused by late access to treatment.

In detail, the first tier is based at Field Hospital No.1 set up at a dormitory to the west of the city, offering primary medical support to COVID-19 patients

The second tier is at the Hoa Vang District Medical Centre, which offers treatment to COVID-19 patients with risk factors such as comorbid conditions and others who are the elderly and pregnant women

The third tier is based at the Da Nang Lung Hospital specilising in treating severely-ill patients who need more intensive care and medical intervention.

As of September 13, 1,175 infected patients were being treated at Field Hospital No.1 , 67 patients were under treatment at the Hoa Vang District Medical Centre, and 56 others were receiving treatment at the Da Nang Lung Hospital.

“In each treatment tier, the healthcare sector allocates human resources and equipment to promptly assess risks and determine appropriate treatment methods in order to minimize the severity of the patient's condition,”, said doctor Thuy.

In reality, COVID-19 patients suffering severe obesity may be at a very high risk of death. In addition, more than 300 children and over 50 pregnant women citywide have contracted the coronavirus. This fact requires the professional force to closely monitor the progress of each patient and the danger signs need to be early detected and promptly intervened.

In order to reduce the rate of disease transition from mild to severe levels, the Field Hospital No.1 focuses on high-risk cases for initial screening, including obesity and other chronic diseases. The pathogenesis of these cases is coagulation dysfunction, which increases the risk of blood clots, pulmonary embolism, and then results in acute respiratory distress.

Meanwhile, the Hoa Vang Medical Centre has applied a number of new treatment regimens such as the use of anti-viral support drugs, medicine that inhibits virus growth and actively use anticoagulants. Thanks to this, there have been almost no complications, whilst the treatment effect proved very good, significantly reducing the rate of patients getting worse. This approach is strongly supported by the Chairman of the National Treatment Council.

Careful, thorough treatment and monitoring of each patient

At the Hoa Vang District Medical Centre, the treatment of COVID-19 patients is also very special. Up to now, this facility has treated more than 50 pregnant patients and 380 pediatric patients aged from 1 month to 5 years.

Doctor Nguyen Dai Vinh, Director of the Hoa Vang District Health Centre, said that the treatment for pediatric patients requires specialised support and intensive human resources from other medical facilities.

The medical staff must both perform professional duties according to the available COVID-19 treatment protocol, and participate in the care, support and psychological intervention for child children if needed.

Also, heed is paid to preventing their parents who stay with their infected children at this medical centre from cross-infection.

Besides, the monitoring, care and treatment for pregnant women also requires very thorough steps.  During the treatment for pregnant women, the Hoa Vang Medical Centre has received the joint coordination’s and great support from the Da Nang Maternity and Pediatric Hospital.

Accordingly, such patients are divided groups based on their gestational age for the application of appropriate psychological care and support measures.

“The related professional activities are also more careful and thorough. The use of anti-inflammatory drugs is also considered according to each dose. Besides, the conduction of CT scans and X-rays are also very limited because of their impact on the health of both mothers-would-be and their fetuses. Especially, when a patient gives birth, medical force is mobilized to a maximum of about 15 people and the post-delivery skin-to-skin method is still applied with the practice of safety measures against COVID-19 put in place to avoid cross-infection during this process," said doctor Vinh.

According to Doctor Le Thanh Phuc, the Director of Da Nang Lung Hospital, over recent times, many patients with serious comorbid conditions have been discharged from this medical establishment following good recovery from the disease.

Typically, a 77 year-old female patient from Nai Hien Dong Ward, Son Tra District, suffering both pneumonia caused by COVID-19 and such very serious underlying diseases such as liver cancer, hypertension and diabetes was given the all-clear from the virus and then hospital discharge on September 10.

Reporting by PHAN CHUNG – Translating by A.T