CONCERNING RADIOGRAPHY
HUS currently has 25 ICU beds that are fully occupied. In addition, it has 22 intermediate care beds for confirmed patients with COVID-19.
Carlos Ibarra, deputy manager of HUS Medical Services, regretted that “there are many suspicious patients who require isolation. The Ministry of Health is delivering test results in 7-10 days. During this period they must remain in an individual cubicle until we can send them to one of the areas prepared for the special care of confirmed patients. We need more speed in testing. ”
The HUS adapted some areas to enable new ICUs where 22 received fans will soon be operational: “We are working on the issue of human talent. We hope they will be available this week, ”he said.
On the other hand, since last Tuesday, seven additional ICUs began operating in their entirety at the Chicamocha Clinic to attend to confirmed or suspected cases of COVID-19. However, they are already busy. Initially, this hospital center had 11 ICUs for this type of patient, but managed to expand the quota to 18.
Luis Francisco Silva, medical director of this clinic, assured that the service for two weeks has been completely full.
In the case of Barrancabermeja, that city has 31 ICU beds in total, both for patients with COVID-19 or other pathologies. Its occupation is around 60%.
The Barrancabermeja Health Secretary, Luis Fernando Castro, indicated that in the coming weeks it is expected to enable six more ICUs at the Ecopetrol Polyclinic, three at the IPS Salud Vital and about 10 more at the Magdalena Clinic. Likewise, the installation of another 10 ICUs for COVID-19 is pending at the Regional Hospital of Barrancabermeja, in charge of the Government.
Castro explained that although the National Government promised to provide 220 ICUs in Santander, the delivery of these ventilation equipment will be done little by little.
For Víctor Raúl Castillo Mantilla, president of the Cardiovascular Foundation of Colombia, FCV, and the International Hospital of Colombia, HIC, the panorama on the occupation of the Intensive Care Units, ICU, is worrying in Santander.
Several of the hospital centers in the metropolitan area have practically reached their maximum occupancy, while cases continue to increase rapidly.
Castillo Mantilla recalled that despite the fact that the leaders promised to enable 280 ICUs and 800 beds in Santander, little has been done to expand the number of units available. In his particular case, it was decided that the 27 ICUs of the HIC will exclusively attend patients with confirmed or suspected COVID-19. Unfortunately, they are totally full. The intermediate care service, consisting of 34 beds, is also complete.
Given this situation, another 21 ICUs are expected to come into operation next week.
Meanwhile, in the FCV, non-COVID-19 patients are cared for, especially with heart problems. “This service is also full, we are also going to make an expansion of 16 more cubicles in the next”, assured the manager.
Additionally, the San Luis clinic also has maximum occupancy in its seven ICUs available to adults. While the occupation in the Neonatal ICU, which consists of 12 cubicles, is around 75%. The six pediatric ICUs are approximately 80% occupied.
In the case of Floridablanca, the Maternal and Child Clinic will start operating next week, which will focus on the care of COVID-19 patients to begin with.
As announced by Miguel Ángel Moreno, mayor of the ‘sweet municipality’, the place will have 14 ICU beds and 6 isolation rooms for COVID-19 patients.
AND WHAT DO THE AUTHORITIES SAY?
Felipe González, departmental manager of COVID-19, admitted the alarming state in which the coverage of the UCI is found.
“In addition, a faster speed of contagion is observed in the Bucaramanga metropolitan area and in Barrancabermeja,” he said.
“Fortunately, the Santander Health Ministry announces the forthcoming arrival of more mechanical ventilators that will reinforce the most nerve centers, including the metropolitan area, the Oil Port and some provinces,” he said.
“The Departmental Government makes efforts with its own resources and with management before the National Government for the hospital expansion of the department. However, the leaders may have to take more drastic measures to stop the spread of the virus, “he added.
“The key is not to go back on the economic recovery, but first there is health. Perhaps preventive isolation needs to be redoubled. Through the Unified Command Post, a contingency plan for the redistribution of human talent in health is prepared in advance, which will be announced tomorrow, “he warned.
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