Regional Health Department: 84% of oxygen points are in use in medical institutions of the Vitebsk region
84% of oxygen points are in use in healthcare facilities of the Vitebsk region out of the total number, Mikhail Vishnevetsky, head of the main department for healthcare of the regional executive committee, told reporters before a meeting on the epidemiological situation and measures taken to counteract the spread of coronavirus.
The Vitebsk region continues to see an increase in patients, and beds are being deployed. "Hospitalization has slightly stabilized over the past week, but it still exceeds discharge. There is a sufficient number of severe patients in intensive care compared to previous waves. About 90% of resuscitators are involved in treating coronavirus patients. All districts are involved; the regional clinical hospital, which handles all emergency care, maternity hospital No. 2 in Vitebsk, which helps women, and the regional oncology dispensary remain conditionally clear," said the head of the regional healthcare department.
The average length of stay for patients in beds is 8-10 days. In intensive care, people stay longer, of course. As a rule, they need to be connected to oxygen or ventilators. Vaccinated people get sick, but in the Vitebsk region, this accounts for 2-3% of all hospitalized patients. Only a few patients end up in intensive care; they do not reach ventilators or fatalities. All medical workers are working with increased loads. Patients who cannot be managed in the district are transferred to the regional level.
"All district hospitals are more or less occupied with COVID. Scheduled care in all hospitals is practically stopped. If it exists, it is at a low level where the situation is a bit simpler," noted Mikhail Vishnevetsky. "As of today, about 84% of all oxygen points are in use in the region. They are sufficient, but also quite occupied by patients who are recovering from severe cases and need a long time to stop relying on oxygen, and those who are just admitted and whose saturation drops, so they switch to oxygen. A large number of people do not need it, but the illness is also severe."
Students and faculty of the Vitebsk State Medical University are assisting medical professionals in hospitals. "Young people also worked in healthcare facilities during the summer, and now over 200 students are employed in outpatient clinics, ambulance stations, and hospitals. There are medical teams working in district centers. We constantly interact with the healthcare department, and we go where specific help is needed. Faculty members visit hospitals and consult with colleagues," said the university's rector, Anatoly Shchastny.
As of October 15, more than 11.6 thousand beds were allocated for COVID-19 patients in hospitals in the Vitebsk region. The branch of the "Zhelezniki" rehabilitation center is operating for the treatment of coronavirus pneumonia, and people undergo rehabilitation after COVID at the regional hospital for disabled veterans of the Great Patriotic War.