In its efforts to provide effective treatment for COVID-19 patients, Da Nang is adopting the three-tiered treatment model, with the first being temporary COVID-19 hospitals and grassroots medical facilities, including home-based and community-based ones, which are designed to care for asymptomatic and mildly symptomatic patients. Apart from stepping up to treat COVID-19 patients with mild symptoms at home, the health agency is urging local healthcare facilities to make separate rooms available to COVID-19 patients with underlying health conditions.

Da Nang sees a growing number of older patients with COVID-19 who have an underlying health condition, thereby putting a great pressure on local health system. IN THE PHOTO: A healthcare professional giving instructions on breathing exercises to a female older patient at the field hospital for COVID-19 patients. Photo: PHAN CHUNG

Timely intervention for older patients at higher risk for severe COVID-19

Data published by the Da Nang Department of Health shows that a total of 672 COVID-19 cases or 6.5% of the city’s cases are being treated at Da Nang’s healthcare facilities: 123 in the Lung hospital, 173 in the Hoa Vang Medical Centre, 352 in the Field Hospital, and 24 in the C Hospital. Besides, there are currently more than 9,700 patients or 93.5% who have no symptoms or mild symptoms that are being monitored and isolated to recover at home.

According to the new guidance published by the Ministry of Health, COVID-19 patients who are older adults aged over 65 years old or babies at three months of age or younger, those aged 50 to 64 vaccinated with just one dose, pregnant women, mothers after birth up to 6 weeks (42 days), along with those presenting an oxygen peripheral saturation (SpO2) between 94% and 96% are eligible for hospital admissions. In addition, patients requiring emergency care, those with underlying health conditions, and people with moderate to severe COVID-19 will be admitted to hospital for treatment.

Doctor Le Thanh Phuc, the Director of the Da Nang Lung Hospital, said that a total of 123 infected patients are receiving treatment at the hospital. Included are 62 severe cases, 57 others with underlying health conditions, 6 requiring critical care, and 75 older adults aged over 65 years old.

Doctor Phuc said that COVID-19 hospitalizations are surging, but a smaller proportion of cases is severe compared with previous waves. However, the number of critically ill COVID-19 patients has soared. Therefore, Mr Phuc highlighted the need to closely monitor patients with mild illness under home-based treatment in a bid to timely transfer those whose symptoms appear to be getting worse to the hospital.

In a similar vein, a total of 352 infected patients are being treated at the field hospital, including 78 severe cases, 195 others with underlying health conditions, and 113 older adults aged over 65 years old.

Doctor Nguyen Duy Thanh from the Field Hospital said that most of the hospitalized patients are older adults with underlying health conditions, and many of them are unable to do needed self-care, making it more difficult and stressful for healthcare workers to provide care for such patients.

Resource optimization for mobile medical stations

Doctor Tran Thanh Thuy, the Acting Director of the Da Nang Department of Health, said that, Da Nang now has a healthcare system with a capacity of 4,800 beds, including more than 270 ICU beds, for COVID-19 patients. The Department of Health has asked private hospitals and district-level medical centres to prepare themselves for treating COVID-19 hospitalized patients.

Currently, a combined total of 75 mobile medical stations have been activated across the city in order to support patients with mild symptoms to recover under home isolation. Da Nang has till date established a system of mobile medical stations with 399 staff members, of whom, 154 are non-medical personnel while 254 are doctors and nurses.

The city sees daily between 1,000 and 1,500 patients under home-based isolation and care ending self-isolation after making a full recovery from the illness. Since late January, healthcare professionals network with 149 doctors, volunteers, and medical staff has been established in Da Nang to support patients with mild symptoms under home-based isolation and care.

The healthcare professionals network has made great efforts to support close to 1,000 COVID-19 patients under home-based isolation and care. High priority has been given to providing timely intervention for high-risk patients to prevent their illness from getting worse.

The COVID-19 pandemic requires careful management of hospital admissions in a bid to reduce the pressure on local health system while facing limitations in resources. Hence, Doctor Tran Thanh Thuy highlighted the important role of mobile medical stations and the community-based health workforce in effectively managing COVID-19 patients under home-based isolation and care in implementing rapid response to the pandemic as the majority of the city’s cases have mild or asymptomatic COVID-19 infections that are eligible for home-based treatment.

Reporting by PHAN CHUNG – Translating by H.L