The Medical Complex of the Fundación Cardiovascular de Colombia (FCV), made up of the Cardiovascular Institute and the Hospital Internacional de Colombia (HIC), has conducted 2,000 teleconsultations between the end of March and April.
Isolated care pathways for patients without respiratory infections and consultations through virtual platforms are part of the strategy of the Cardiovascular Institute and the Hospital Internacional de Colombia to provide safe care.
Bucaramanga, May 2020. During the last six weeks, in which the country has experienced the quarantine decreed by the National Government to face COVID-19, the health teams of the Hospital Internacional de Colombia (HIC) and the Cardiovascular Institute of the FCV have attended to 2,000 teleconsultations.
Patients have received care through this medium in more than 30 specialties, including cardiology, hemodynamics, dermatology, physiatry, oncology, and psychiatry, among others. “It is important for people to continue with their treatments and medical check-ups, as this is the way to ensure their effectiveness. For this reason, we are in constant contact to remind our users of their authorized appointments and to inform them about the various options available for evaluation,” says Lina Chaparro, manager of the HIC.
In addition to the virtual alternative, both centers have adopted protocols to provide safe care in their facilities. Everyone entering is screened for respiratory symptoms, checked for mask use, and provided with glycerinated alcohol for their hands.
Specific assessment routes and zones have also been implemented in both institutions for those presenting respiratory symptoms. At the HIC, for example, an external area near the Emergency and Trauma Unit has been set up specifically for the triage (evaluation) of these patients.
External care point for the evaluation of patients with respiratory symptoms arriving at the HIC.
“If you need to visit the HIC for a consultation, procedure, or emergency, you can do so because we have prepared with all the necessary measures to minimize risks. The hospitalization, Intensive Care, and Operating Room areas for patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 are separate and distanced from those for patients with other conditions, who follow a different, isolated, and safe route,” explains the HIC manager.
These areas are properly demarcated and have differential care protocols based on the diagnosis. The medical and support staff designated to care for patients with respiratory infections only come into contact with them and are equipped at all times with the necessary biosafety elements.
The same applies at the Cardiovascular Institute of the FCV, where all necessary services and specialties for heart care and transplants continue to be provided, thanks to the establishment of safe areas.
To enhance protective measures, nursing assistants are stationed at all hospital entrances to promptly identify individuals who need to follow the designated route for respiratory cases. An extension of the Emergency Department, isolated from other areas, has been designated for the evaluation of these patients and for taking samples if necessary.
Nursing assistants take the temperature and ask about symptoms of everyone entering the hospitals.
With these measures and others, such as increased cleaning frequencies in common areas and service zones; promoting distancing in places where lines form (such as cafeterias or payment points) through floor markings spaced one meter apart; and allowing only one companion per patient in specific cases, both institutions ensure safety.
“Health cannot wait. We know there are people with delicate health situations, who may be waiting for a transplant, a pending surgery, or any other service on which their timely treatment depends. To provide safe care for everyone, we now have a clear and defined strategy that allows us to continue saving lives,” says Olga Moreno, manager of the Cardiovascular Institute of the FCV.
Training and Safety for Healthcare Staff
Considering the clinical guidelines issued by health authorities worldwide, various leaders of the FCV medical and support team structured a course to strengthen the competence of healthcare professionals at FCV hospitals in managing patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19.
The program consists of eight modules that delve into different topics, such as orotracheal intubation, cardiocerebral resuscitation, non-invasive ventilation, management of geriatric patients, use of protective equipment, and emotional coping by healthcare staff in critical situations, among others.
“We have trained more than 1,000 of our professionals to provide comprehensive patient management, protecting both the patients and the staff by applying the appropriate protocols,” says Mario Castillo, an intensive care anesthesiologist at the FCV and academic coordinator of the training, which is also being offered virtually and is available to all healthcare workers in the country at the link: www.fcv.org/educacion
The institution also ensures the safety of its staff by providing protective equipment such as safety goggles, conventional masks, face shields, gloves, gowns, and N95 masks for defined areas and procedures, among others.
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