“The number of new active cases of COVID-19 logged across Da Nang, especially severely-ill patients, has recorded a significant decrease as compared to the peak time when the city recorded dozens of infections. However, it is hard to predict the next developments of the complicated coronavirus surge”, said doctor Le Thanh Phuc, the Director of the Da Nang Lung Hospital, the only one medical establishment in the city designated for COVID-19 treatment, in a recent interview with DA NANG Newspaper.

Doctor Le Thanh Phuc, the Director of the Da Nang Lung Hospital, gets vaccinated against COVID-19

‘New normal’ state observed in the hospital

In light of the pandemic, at any stage, the Da Nang Lung Hospital has always fulfilled two parallel tasks:  handling COVID-19 patients and offering treatment to in/ outpatients with tuberculosis and common lung diseases.

The total hospital bed number now stands at130, of which up to 100 are designated for those contracting the coronavirus. For the time being, 53 COVID-19 patients are being treated in the hospital, only a few of whom are suffering severe symptoms. 

Besides, 90 in-patients with tuberculosis and common lung diseases are receiving treatment in the hospital. This medical establishment is now on a tuberculosis prevention and control mission under the National Tuberculosis Programme, and at the same time , managing Asthma and Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) prevention programme.

Regarding human resources, amid the COVID-19 surge, in severe departments, there may be a total of 50 medical doctors and other medical workers from this hospital and other medical facilities on duty with 5 shifts per day.

Till date, with the lower amount of COVID 19 patients as compared to the previously stressful period, the Da Nang Lung Hospital can now optimise its own human resources. Each group of about 10 medical staffers can assume the task of COVID-19 treatment with the duration of one month.

Another ‘normal state’ may be noticed that the working spirit of the medical force here is much stronger. Medical staff in Da Nang, and the Lung Hospital in particular, have undergone the practical process of improving expertise and the ability to respond to any coronavirus outbreaks on a large scale over the past time, so they are more confident at work.

What factors prompted the hospital to enter a new normal state as observed currently?

The first one can be seen that Da Nang has obtained a very high rate of inoculation against COVID-19 for its residents at different age ranges, especially the elderly, thus helping reduce the amount of new infections or severe cases.

Another reason is that Da Nang currently has enough drugs for COVID-19 treatments (pellets for moderately- ill patients and injections for those serious symptoms), along with medical equipment such as patient monitoring machines, breathing aid devices and  recovery tools to meet the treatment tasks.

Doctor Le Thanh Phuc, the Director of the Da Nang Lung Hospital, the only one medical establishment in the city designated for COVID-19 treatment (fifth from left) congratulate those who are discharged from the hospital following recovery from the coronavirus

Besides, the reasonable task assignment has contributed to the effectiveness of COVID-19 treatment. It is worth praising that all doctors and health workers from public, private hospitals assigned by the Department of Health to the Lung Hospital have always been “ in the same boat” with a high devotion spirit and great efforts at work.

Also, the stratification and classification of patients based on their disease progress for proper treatment regimens have also been taken into account.

Response scenarios mapped out in a prompt fashion

In reality, amid the resumption of inter-provincial traveling activities with the easing of COVID-19 curbs, the possibility of the coronavirus spreading from one place to another is also higher.

“If localities nearby Da Nang record many coronavirus cases, we immediately make preparations for hospital beds, stratification and many related tasks in a bid to be in readiness of receiving new patients for treatment ” said doctor Phuc.

It is notable that the Lung Hospital has, over the past two years, met hospital safety requirements. Importance has been attached to protecting the hospital from the virus from the outside in tandem with avoiding the virus spreading from the hospital to the community, and preventing cross-contamination here as well.

The hospital safety is now one of the key factors, so the patient reception procedures are strictly put in place with heightened restrictions.

In particular, doctor Phuc raised his voice of deep concern over a shortage of medical manpower active in the treatment of tuberculosis and lung diseases amid the global mortality rate from these serious diseases is still high.

“I am looking forward to witnessing more young doctors get involved in an arduous yet highly meaningful medical field’, said Phuc.

Reporting by THU HOA – Translating by A. THU