Covid patients got very bad. They had to be intubated, invaded, taken to dialysis. The daily log was terrifying —in the voice of an urgent specialist from the region—. Several arrived at the same time, up to 15. In the midst of a shortage of ICU beds and devices! The story has not disappeared, but it has lost frequency. Of four patients who entered the emergency room daily in the last three weeks, none have been due to covid in the hospital of this health professional. That seems to be the current photograph of Antioquia.
In fact, last Monday, following one year, eight months and 24 days, the department did not register any deaths from the virus. The statistic, which scared away sadness in some of the paisa homes, was cause for celebration for the authorities of the sector and the professionals who have put their chests during this pandemic. That life that was not lost is consistent with the decrease in people in the ICU due to this disease.
Although they warn once morest falling into premature triumphs, health professionals recognize that the contingency, at last, gives them a respite. Now covid patients arrive but with mild symptoms, which do not reach the emergency room. Although ICUs register high occupancy, cardiovascular, neurological and trauma pathologies are the ones that summon the sector, says the emergency physician and several hospital managers consulted.
The figures prove it. While the number of patients with covid in the ICU fell from 184 to 32, between March 15, 2021 and yesterday, Tuesday —with a maximum peak of 910 patients in the year—, at this same time the patients for other pathologies that needed this type of attention rose from 487 to 633 —fourth highest number, following days with 638, 645 and 653—.
The work has not stopped, but the drop in specialized care, the number of health personnel required and their care to avoid getting infected and bringing the virus home has been notorious. Carlos García, director of Health of the University IPS, states that the drop in cases already allows ICU beds to be dismantled and collaborators to be released.
From having 163 active beds for almost a year, there are now 65 available. Of these, as of yesterday, only one was occupied by a covid patient, because five more were registered as suspects, but received general hospitalization care.
Similar is the photography in the Pablo Tobón Uribe. Its director, Andrés Aguirre, confirms that the number of cases continues to plummet. Beds have been closed and, according to your reading, they might continue to be dismantled. Of 12 dedicated to covid patients, only three are occupied, while 49 provide services for other pathologies. And in the General Hospital, only 6 covid patients are cared for, out of 77 active ones.
This scenario is an incentive to address the lags. ICUs require, in addition to ventilators, infusion and nutrition pumps. For every two patients in this situation, a nursing assistant is required, while in general services one person can attend to up to five patients.
Although it is not possible to say that the decrease in infections and ICU occupancy will continue in the coming months, health personnel are already accounting for what they have learned, such as innovation and expansion of hospital capacity with modest resources and in record time.
This ability, however, should not be abused. The consulted emergency physician says that vaccination and self-care have allowed them this respite. Although they are now full due to other pathologies, the wear is not the same.
