QC gov't, 30 hospitals forge agreement on PUIs, COVID-positive patients
Published Mar 29, 2020 12:00 am
By Chito Chavez
To prevent the spread of the coronavirus in the locality, the Quezon City (QC) government and 30 city-based private hospitals have forged an agreement where the “potential and positive cases of COVID-19’’ in the city will be referred to the local government for further action.
(MANILA BULLETIN)
Mayor Joy Belmonte has continuously sought a dialogue with the city’s hospitals, expressing her deep concern over the protocol that sends the patients home after being tested for COVID-19 due to the lack of facilities at the hospitals.
Under Department of Health (DOH) Memorandum No. 2020-0108 issued on March 11, 2020, hospitals are advised to send home persons under investigation (PUIs) and positive COVID-19 patients showing mild symptoms for strict self-isolation and close monitoring by local health authorities.
Belmonte insisted this system would only worsen the situation as the patient could potentially spread the virus to his family and community.
“Ang problema, malaki ang tsansa na mahawa pa ng pasyente ang mga kasama nito sa bahay at sa komunidad. Lalo lang lalala ang problema sa halip na masolusyunan," Belmonte said.
(The problem is there is a strong chance that the patient may spread the virus among their household members or to the whole community. The problem will only get worse instead of being resolved.)
An agreement was forged when the representatives of the city’s 30 private hospitals met Belmonte and pledged to work closely with the city government in the fight against the deadly virus.
Belmonte said the private hospitals had committed to immediately inform the local government when a patient is showing symptoms of respiratory illness, instead of sending them home for further monitoring.
“We can refer the patient to one of our quarantine facilities where they can be given immediate medical attention,” Belmonte said.
In the meeting, Belmonte also assured private hospitals of full support from the local government in the fight against COVID-19.
“The local government will procure equipment such as ventilators and mobile intensive care units (ICU), but we need the private hospitals to send some of their personnel to assist us in operating these machines,” Belmonte said.
She also said the city government will request hospitals from other cities to refer to them PUIs or COVID-positive patients who are Quezon City residents instead of advising them to undergo home quarantine.
Meanwhile, the local government is developing an online system where local residents can reach out to medical personnel with their concerns about COVID-19.
Dubbed “telemedicine,” the online system gives residents a chance to consult and get expert advice from doctors via video conferencing.
The system is seen to help reduce the influx of patients in national and local hospitals in Quezon City and, at the same time, expedite the process of consultation.
(MANILA BULLETIN)
Mayor Joy Belmonte has continuously sought a dialogue with the city’s hospitals, expressing her deep concern over the protocol that sends the patients home after being tested for COVID-19 due to the lack of facilities at the hospitals.
Under Department of Health (DOH) Memorandum No. 2020-0108 issued on March 11, 2020, hospitals are advised to send home persons under investigation (PUIs) and positive COVID-19 patients showing mild symptoms for strict self-isolation and close monitoring by local health authorities.
Belmonte insisted this system would only worsen the situation as the patient could potentially spread the virus to his family and community.
“Ang problema, malaki ang tsansa na mahawa pa ng pasyente ang mga kasama nito sa bahay at sa komunidad. Lalo lang lalala ang problema sa halip na masolusyunan," Belmonte said.
(The problem is there is a strong chance that the patient may spread the virus among their household members or to the whole community. The problem will only get worse instead of being resolved.)
An agreement was forged when the representatives of the city’s 30 private hospitals met Belmonte and pledged to work closely with the city government in the fight against the deadly virus.
Belmonte said the private hospitals had committed to immediately inform the local government when a patient is showing symptoms of respiratory illness, instead of sending them home for further monitoring.
“We can refer the patient to one of our quarantine facilities where they can be given immediate medical attention,” Belmonte said.
In the meeting, Belmonte also assured private hospitals of full support from the local government in the fight against COVID-19.
“The local government will procure equipment such as ventilators and mobile intensive care units (ICU), but we need the private hospitals to send some of their personnel to assist us in operating these machines,” Belmonte said.
She also said the city government will request hospitals from other cities to refer to them PUIs or COVID-positive patients who are Quezon City residents instead of advising them to undergo home quarantine.
Meanwhile, the local government is developing an online system where local residents can reach out to medical personnel with their concerns about COVID-19.
Dubbed “telemedicine,” the online system gives residents a chance to consult and get expert advice from doctors via video conferencing.
The system is seen to help reduce the influx of patients in national and local hospitals in Quezon City and, at the same time, expedite the process of consultation.