These are sharing words made by young doctors joining the Network of Companion Physicians who are working all day and night to support COVID-19 patients at home.

Doctor Le Trung The from the Department of Nephrology and Endocrinology of the Da Nang General Hospital is updating the situation of F0s at home. (Photo provided by the character)

Since January 2022, Da Nang has seen a surge in COVID-19 cases. Therefore, the Network of Companion Physicians has been created in a bid to support COVID-19 patients at home and help the local healthcare sector reduce overload.

The network has 10 groups in charge of 7 districts (each district having one group, particularly Thanh Khe, Son Tra, Cam Le districts having 2 groups each).

Happy to be dedicated to medical profession and the community

After busy ringtones, we were able to connect with Doctor Le Trung The who is working at the Department of Nephrology and Endocrinology of the Da Nang General Hospital, and a leader of a support team for COVID-19 patients at home in Hoa Vang District.

Doctor The said "I am fortunate and happy to join the Network of Companion Physicians because I can accompany with COVID-19 patients in their most difficult moments”.

The male doctor has joined the network since its establishment. As a role of the manager of a group of volunteer physicians in Hoa Vang District, Doctor The is always in a state of readiness to be "on duty" on phones and computers. Through consulting, and assessing the situation and disease progression, Doctor The supported many F0 cases to be hospitalised in a timely manner.

“COVID-19 patients or their relatives often have insecurity psychology, especially families with elderly people and young children. Therefore, doctors must consult carefully so that patients know how to self-monitor their health at home, and when they should immediately report to doctors and volunteers for early intervention so as to reduce the risk of serious complications" added he.

Also joining the Network of Companion Physicians from early days of establishment, Master, Doctor Le Duc Toan, Deputy Head of the Department of Surgery of the Da Nang Maternity and Pediatrics Hospital, is in charge of managing the network in Ngu Hanh Son District. He has provided timely support and psychological counselling to help patients with COVID-19 stabilize their health.

Not only giving healthcare consultation and assistance to F0s via online apps and phones, Doctor Do Nhu Can, Head of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of the Ngu Hanh Son District Hospital cum Standing Member of the municipal Young Physicians’ Association is willing to visit the families of COVID-19 patients for medical check-ups when necessary.

“The patients only trust doctors, one phone call has reassured 50% of the patients’ psychology. Therefore, I always try to do everything to help patients” said Doctor Can.

Supporting COVID-19 patients

The Network of Companion Physicians was established on July 22, 2021 by the Viet Nam Young Physicians’ Association with the aim of mobilising doctors and volunteers across the country to provide remote assistance for COVID-19 cases, as well as providing additional support to the health services of provinces with a high number of active cases.

In Da Nang, the network was created on January 26, 2022, operating with the focal point of the municipal Young Physicians’ Association.

The members of the network are doctors and medical workers from the city’s Young Physicians’ Association and medical facilities citywide, and volunteers who have been selected and trained to work closely with the central network to support COVID-19 infected people.

Doctor Dang Anh Dao, Standing Vice Chairwoman of the Da Nang Young Physicians’ Association cum Deputy Head of the city's Network of Companion Physicians, said that members of the network were in charge of making calls to COVID-19 patients and those living with them to provide remote assistance, as well as promptly detecting high-risk patients that needed emergency support and hospital transfer.

According to Doctor Dao, the infected people can make phone calls to 0236 3931022 to have talks with doctors for consultancies.

“The Network of Companion Physicians partly helps F0 patients feel more secure during their medical treatment”, said Dr. Dang Anh Dao.

Reporting by THANH TINH – Translating by M.DUNG