Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 6) — All doctors should be available on call to advise COVID-19 patients on whether or not they need to go to a hospital, a healthcare workers’ group urged on Tuesday, saying this would help prevent congestion in facilities.
“Palaganapin na natin itong telemedicine na lahat tayo…maghanap ng paraan para matawagan tayo ng pasyente, sa Facebook, sa Viber, sa cellphone,” said Dr. Antonio Dans of the Healthcare Professionals Alliance Against COVID-19.
[Translation: Let’s make telemedicine a common practice wherein all of us would find a way for patients to contact us whether through Facebook, Viber or cellphone. If we all do that, we can help a lot of people.]
He said the doctors can monitor the mild patients and reassure them about their condition without the need for them to go to a hospital.
“If we all do that, marami tayong matutulungan,” added Dans.
The group pointed out that there is still no central referral system that would inform patients if they could stay at home or proceed to an isolation facility instead of rushing to a crowded hospital. It said one of the persistent causes of congestion in hospitals is that many beds are now being occupied by mild cases that should be in isolation centers instead.
Dr. Aileen Riel-Espina said she also reached out to the MMDA and the Department of Health, asking them to post real-time data on bed occupancy rates so relatives would not have to call or check on so many hospitals and facilities looking for available beds or ICU slots.
She stressed that there should be a “conductor” in the hospital and facility referral network who would point to where patients should go.
Meanwhile, Dr. Pauline Convocar said families can also read triage guides to see if the symptoms of patients in their households would need urgent hospital care.
“Triage is all just about putting the right patient to the right facility with the right care provider and at the right time,” she said.
Convocar also urged all families to prepare emergency plans in case someone gets sick.
