K’taka issues SOPs for admitting Covid patients in hospitals
Bengaluru: The Karnataka Health Department has issued guidelines on admission of COVID-19 patient in designated hospitals after clinical assessment, mandating that the district surveillance officer (DSO) should be first informed to initiate further procedures, an official said on Friday.
“A health team sent by the DSO should visit the home or hospital where the patient is staying. The team should conduct a rapid assessment of his or her health condition,” said Additional Chief Secretary Jawaid Akhtar.
In the rapid health condition assessment, the team should first check the patient’s body temperature, followed by SpO2 level and confirm if there are any comorbidities such as hypertension, diabetes, tuberculosis, HIV, cancer, strokes, pregnancy etc.
Depending on the health condition of patients, Akhtar said, two categories have been made.
“Those who have body temperature greater than 37.5 degrees Celsius, SpO2 level below 94 per cent, elderly (above 60 years) and suffering from known co-morbid conditions should be taken to a dedicated Covid hospital (DCH).
“All other patients, even if older but not suffering from co-morbidities, those below 60 and suffering from co-morbidities and asymptomatic cases should be taken to dedicated Covid health centre (DCHC) or a private hospital as opted to by the patient.
“The patients are assessed clinically and evaluated at DCHCs or private hospitals with appropriate diagnostic tests. After evaluation, if the patients are asymptomatic, they are shifted to a Covid Care Centre (CCC) for further management,” said Akhtar.
CCCs are expected to be equipped with ventilated rooms, pulse oximeters, handheld thermal scanners and blood pressure apparatus.
A nurse has to be present round the clock for every 50 patients and should visit each patient twice a day for assessment whereas the medical officer has to visit the CCC once a day. He should also be available on call in case of an emergency.
Staff serving food and others should wear personal protective equipment and an N-95 mask.
Explaining the procedures at DCHCs, Akhtar said general examinations for medical conditions like body temperature, BP, pulse, oxygen saturation and urine output should be in place.
Investigations such as complete blood count, fasting blood sugar, random blood sugar, liver function tests, renal function tests, ECG and chest X-ray facilities should be available.
“DCHCs should ensure that above examinations are over in an orderly timeline of 24 hours and depending on the examination, the patient is continued to be lodged at the DCHC or sent to DCH or CCC,” said the senior officer.
Likewise, the discharge policy should be done as per the protocols issued by the Health Department from time to time.