Ready for response in case of Covid-19 outbreak

​Isolation and screening area for patients with symptoms of cough and fever at Hoan My Dong Nai International Hospital

Developing specific scenarios

Director of Dong Nai Children's Hospital Nguyen Le Da Ha advised, currently, the Hospital's former Examination Department and the Emergency Department have been demolished for repair. Therefore, the Examination Department and the Emergency Department were moved inside the hospital, near the Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases. The fact that the Emergency Department was moved inside instead of being near the entrance as before causes somewhat difficulty to access for the patient. Therefore, the hospital has installed signs to guide patients and their relatives to the Emergency Department. In particular, due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, during the Lunar New Year holiday, the hospital is expected to be always in an active manner, ready to respond in case of any problem.

“The hospital has considered scenarios and held a rehearsal for admission of pediatric patients suspected of being infected with Covid-19. Medical staff of the Emergency Department and related departments and faculties have been well trained; therefore, they are able to respond well when a real situation occurs,” said Dr. Da Ha.

At Dong Nai General Hospital, in order to cope with cases in which a Covid-19 infected patient enters the emergency, right from the beginning of 2020, the hospital has arranged an isolation room for these cases; at the same time, rehearsals are held for medical staff to get acquainted and capable of operating, to avoid spreading the outbreak in medical facilities.

According to regulation, whether on holidays or normal days, all patients and their family members upon entering the Emergency Department in particular and the hospital in general are obliged to wear masks and quickly sanitize their hands. Masks are not required in cases of patients with respiratory failure subjected to an oxygen respirator. The patients with risks of infection are admitted to the quarantine room for prior examination.

Following the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee's Directive No. 02/CT-UBT dated January 12, 2021 on strengthening measures to ensure a joyful, healthy, safe, economical, and joyful Lunar New Year 2021, Director of the Department of Health Phan Huy Anh Vu has signed an official document requesting affiliated units and medical facilities in the province to strengthen disease prevention and control, especially the Covid-19 pandemic and seasonal infectious diseases.

Ensuring safety for prevention and control of Covid-19

Emergency Department of Dong Nai Children's Hospital

Deputy Director of the Department of Health Le Quang Trung said, it is important to strictly comply with the directions and regulations in the pandemic prevention and control; ensure absolute safety for activities of mass gathering; develop plans and scenarios to meet the pandemic prevention and control; implement the four on-the-spot motto in case of outbreaks; be active, monitor and detect pathogens and promptly handle emerging outbreaks, and prevent outbreaks from spreading; update treatment regimens, reserve drugs, medical supplies and equipment, and prepare to receive and treat patients infected with Covid-19; seriously comply with regulations on entry management and medical quarantine; closely inspect medical certificates of negative results for SARS-CoV-2 for all cases of entry including experts, international students, and returning overseas Vietnamese people; strengthen investigation to ensure food safety and hygiene during the period before, during and after the Lunar New Year; coordinate to effectively organize interdisciplinary inspection and examination of food safety for food production and business establishments in the area; promptly detect and strictly handle violations, and publicize test results on the mass media; take imported food samples to determine and assess risks of Covid-19 infection; well organize medical examination and treatment with medical facilities available 24/7; reserve a sufficient quantity of drugs, blood, infusion fluid, materials, equipment, chemicals and means to meet the needs of medical examination and treatment, especially promptly handle emergencies caused by traffic accidents and food poisoning; maintain organization, strictly comply with regulations on screening, classifying, and diversifying, ensure infection control in hospitals, absolutely prevent cross-contamination in hospitals, continue to expand testing for suspicious subjects, and strengthen inspection and supervision of Covid-19 prevention and control in hospitals; and reinforce inspection and examination of drug trading establishments, promptly and strictly detecting and handling violations, especially the quality of drugs, counterfeit drugs, and drugs not permitted for circulation. As doctors' warnings, common emergency diseases during the Tet holiday include digestive disorders, traffic accidents and injuries. For children, adults should be careful of accidents caused by children playing games, suffocation when swimming or electric shock, boiling water burn, and suffering from traffic accidents. Parents need to pay attention to ensure safety for children. It is advisable for adults not to drink alcohol and drive with children. For children under 3 years old, parents are advised to always follow children closely; and keep bottles, jars, hot food, drinks, and liquid medicines from their reach to avoid unfortunate accidents.

Bao Ngoc