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DOH, hospitals ramp up home care efforts amid COVID-19 resurgence

The resurgence of the COVID-19 cases in March and April, when the occupancy of intensive care unit beds dedicated to COVID-19 rose to 64% in the country and 70% in the epicenter Metro Manila, put the spotlight on alternative care facilities outside of the crowded hospitals.

This led to the Department of Health and some hospitals in Metro Manila to offer home care services and telemedicine to ease hospital congestion.

Joseph Rumbaua, 65, was one of the many COVID-19 patients who struggled and died without having immediate access to health care service.

“Umu-ubo po si tatay noon, nanghihina at hindi na makatayo. Halos nakaluhod na. Hindi daw po sila matatanggap dahil hindi raw naka-coordinate," his son Arman said as he narrated how his father was taken from one hospital to another because there was no room.

[He was coughing, weak and could no longer stand. He was almost kneeling. The hospital staff said they could not take him in because we failed to coordinate his arrival.]

"Sinabi sa kanila na pumila at maghintay ng slot,” he added.

[We were told to fall in line and wait for a slot.]

It was only at the fourth hospital where Rumbaua was taken into the emergency room. After only a day, he succumbed to the coronavirus.

“Walang oxygen tank na ibinigay sa kanya sa unang mga oras niya doon at sinabi sa amin na nabigyan na lang siya ng oxygen umaga na kinabukasan," Arman said.

[He had no oxygen tank during his first hours and we were told that he was only given oxygen in the morning the following day.]

"Ang kalagayan niya po doon sa ER ay nasa less than 100 patients sila na magkakasama doon. ‘Yung iba nakaupo lang sa wheelchair, nakasalampak sa sahig," he added.

[They were almost a hundred patients at the ER. Some just sat in the wheelchair, others on the floor.]

'Home Care Management'

As of May 1, 2021, the bed occupancy rate NCR is 56.8% for 9, 803 patients (Occupied- 5,573, Vacant- 4,230). There are 159 health care facilities in NCR allotted for COVID-19 beds.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire of the Department of Health said that the DOH was expanding the number of ICU beds to at least 500 beds.

They are also expanding the temporary treatment and monitoring facilities. 

Vergeire said almost 98% of the cases were mild and asymptomatic. She said these cases need not be admitted in the hospitals.

"Maaring sa quarantine facility o isolation facilities lamang. Pangatlo, kailangan natin dagdagan ang healthcare workers, by doing that we can be able to have functional beds," Vergeire said.

[They can stay at a quarantine facility or isolation facilities. Third, we need to add more health care workers and by doing that we can have functional beds.]

"Pang-apat syempre 'yung ating home care at local government response natin," she added.

[Fourth are the home care and local government response.]

Hospitals and home care

The Medical City has its own homecare service which costs P13,000 to P65,000 for 10 days. This depends on the patients' condition.

Dr. Amiel dela Cruz, the chairman of Department of Medicine at The Medical City said that the first encounter would be done virtually.

“Pupunta ang team ng doctors na may kasamang healthcare team, bibisita sa pasyente, ia-assess, titingnan din yung lugar kung saan maga-isolate and the rest will be done follow-up with the attending physician na,” Dela Cruz said.

St. Luke’s Medical Center also opened its telemedicine consultation.

The Department of Health has its telemedicine service with the contact number 1555 or 02-894-COVID.

At present, even hotels and warehouses are open as quarantine facilities. —NB, GMA News