Bengaluru, Jun 20: The Karnataka Health Department has issued guidelines on the admission of COVID-19 patients in private 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 Karnataka's Additional Chief Secretary Jawaid Akhtar.
In the rapid health condition assessment, the team should first check the patient's body temperature, followed by SpO2 (oxygen saturation) level and confirm if there are any comorbidities such as hypertension, diabetes, tuberculosis, HIV, cancer, stroke 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 percent, elderly (above 60 years) and suffering from known comorbid conditions should be taken to a dedicated Covid hospital (DCH)," he said.
"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 a dedicated Covid health centre (DCHC) or a private hospital as opted by the patient," he added.
Private hospitals have been asked to pitch in due to the rising number of cases in Karnataka. Currently, there are 2943 active cases in the state after 337 cases were reported on Friday.
"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.
The Karnataka government is yet to fix an upper limit on the cost of treating COVID-19 patients in private hospitals. While reports indicated that this could be capped at Rs 5200 per day, health officials are yet to specify this is the case. Private hospitals in the state have asked the government to take a collaborative approach in deciding the fixed cap on treatment cost.
Comments
Its all like a Drama.... nee Atta haage maadu.. naaa hodeda haage maduttene...
If you have real concern about Mangalore Minority, Please please please arrest him.. your own government your own administration.
Hello Kodichal bhai, why sou moto case ? Let the people know that You or your Congressmen doesn't have guts to register a case against him. Wear Bangles and sit at home, your prepoll planned press conference will not give any mileage. We all know you guys want bhatta or any other card to use it for your election purpose. Know one is dependent on Karnataka congress government. Also tell ministers in DK to wear saree and sit at home. Don't worry about Bhatta, we know how to deal with him and out to prevent communal harmony.
Haji Ibrahim Bhai.
Two years back same bhatta barked at Gurupura against Muslims, the same congress party is ruling karnataka... Until now no any action taken against him.
Youth congRSS president Mithun Rai shouted at Gurupura, in future if bhatta going to speak anywhere he will take hindu youngsters of congRSS to stop his speech. Where is now this mithun?
You congRSS people can fool all the muslims one time, not all the time.
We now understand what is congRSS, and what is BJP.
Stop drama.... arrest bhatta now and put him behind jail for long time. then only we can understand original congress is ruling karnataka.
dont give any press conference.
No use of making bow, bow ...... in the public....Bhatta is ready with Anticipatory bill.... Still you trust xxxxxx cong ....
Shame on you kodichal.
Your own party ruling the karnataka.
Don't do drama in front of the people. There is no need to announce openly to arrest Batta. Order police to arrest him and put into cell.
What a drama?? you congress people are best for drama only, you people are in power and you people begging with police, shame on you congress.. Congress cheating people only with statement. Muslims also blindly supporting these people. what a tragedy.
These useless leaders are joking their selves! When the people gave them power why to fear RSS??? Or Is RSS controlling Congress Leaders??? Next time please don't come to ask for vote by showing RSS fear!!! People of Dk understood the Reality.
Your own Siddramulla Khan is ruling Karnataka. prior to last election he had promised to take action against Bhat. now his partymen want advice from Bhat's pariwar.
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