MARGAO
Shifting of the swab collection centre to the Ravindra Bhavan, Margao, has rid the rush and chaotic situation at the South district hospital and has now paved way for a Covid screening centre and OPD at the hospital.
Come Saturday and the Covid screening centre/OPD will become a reality at the district hospital, which will help the healthcare workers manning the hospital to subject the patients to a check-up before taking a call whether they need hospitalization or home isolation.
Even as the rush witnessed on the northern entrance to the district hospital disappeared on Friday, the hospital healthcare workers were putting a system in place at the space left vacant by the shifting of the swab collection centre to the Ravindra Bhavan.
Hospicio Medical Superintended Dr Deepa Correia said the OPD will start functioning at the district hospital from Saturday which would allow the healthcare workers to check the status of the patients, before chalking out the future course of action.
“The OPD will help the doctors to assess the condition of the patient and take a review whether he/she requires hospitalization or home isolation,” she said.
A senior doctor informed that patients simply rush to the district hospital with the hope of getting an admission. “This patients may not require hospitalization but home isolation. You may blame it on panic or otherwise, people come to the district hospital for admission even though they can get cured by isolating at home. In the bargain, they deny access to the genuine patients, who require treatment,” he said, and added, “The OPD will become the first contact point for any patient who comes for admission to the district hospital.”
Those whose condition conforms to the set parameters of admission will be then referred to the casualty where a detailed examination will take place before taking a call on hospitalisation.
Nodal Officer Dr Rajesh Patil told The Goan that the hospital has chalked out a plan to make available oxygen concentrators at the space vacated by the swab collection centre to provide immediate treatment to patients before they are admitted to the hospital.
“We have drawn up a plan wherein patients whose oxygen level drops below 90 and require oxygen facility will be provided the same immediately so that no time is wasted before the patient is admitted,” he said.
Dr Patil said the screening/OPD centre will be manned by two Ayush doctors and a couple of nurses, who will be equipped with check-up facilities and medicines.
The district hospital has already received 30 oxygen concentrators and 38 more concentrators are in the offing, which is expected to provide emergency relief to patients gasping for breath once they come to the casualty.
