On the morning of November 24, FV Hospital’s Medical Director Do Trong Khanh, PhD, MD, gave a presentation at a seminar titled “Protecting your health and adapting safely to the Covid-19 pandemic”, organized by Tien Phong Newspaper. The seminar took place in both Hanoi (Headquarters of Tien Phong Newspaper) and Ho Chi Minh City (La Vela Hotel) and was live-streamed on many social networking platforms.
Presenting at the seminar, Dr Do Trong Khanh shared medical statistics and his experience in ensuring FV Hospital was a safe environment for patients to visit and receive medical care during the pandemic. In July 2021, FV Hospital established a COVID-19 Treatment Department to receive and treat patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 before the pandemic situation overloaded the medical system in HCMC. FV performed more than 12,400 RT-PCR tests, of which 2,078 cases of COVID-19 were identified. The hospital has received and treated 296 inpatients classified as mild, moderate and severe cases. The successful treatment rate for COVID-19 at FV Hospital was 73 per cent, including many cases of patients who were over 80 years old with underlying diseases.
Dr Do Trong Khanh (first from the right) and other speakers at the seminar.
Following the split hospital model, FV has upgraded its facilities so that it can continue to serve the medical examination and treatment needs of people who are not infected by SARS-CoV-2, while supporting the treatment of COVID-19 patients. FV implemented a dual screening process at the entrances and exits of the hospital, temporarily isolating people suspected of having COVID-19 in areas with specially designed ventilation pressures. In addition to the normal PCR testing system, the hospital employed a fast-track PCR system which delivered results in two hours to support fast, accurate testing for urgent cases. The hospital also invested in liquid oxygen storage tanks and 15 HFNC systems, set up more special pressure rooms in the ICU and operating rooms, and mobilised a team of doctors, nurses, and supportive staff for the split hospital model. The goal was to be able to receive patients according to their medical condition while handling urgent cases, such as cardiovascular interventions, stroke and traumatic brain injuries, even in situations where the patient would be at risk of contracting SARS-CoV-2.
“In order to be able to safely adapt to the COVID-19 epidemic, people should feel confident to visit the hospital for timely treatment of chronic diseases. Together with vaccines, getting regular care is the key to reducing the risk of death for COVID-19 patients,‘” said Dr Khanh, concluding his presentation.
Attendees of the seminar “Protecting your health and adapting safely to the Covid-19 pandemic” included representatives from health authorities and regulatory agencies: Luong Ngoc Khue, MD, PhD, Director of the Administration of Medical Examination and Treatment, The Ministry of Health; Tran Dac Phu, MD, PhD, former Director of the Department of Preventive Medicine; and Dang Manh Trung, Head of the Standing Committee of the Central Commission for Propaganda and Education in Ho Chi Minh City. Do Trong Khanh was joined by 12 speakers and experts in many related fields.
Representative of the organising committee, journalist Le Minh Toan, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Tien Phong Newspaper, shared: “Through the pandemic, many normalcies have had to be redefined, but above all we must look to the future. This requires us to work together to fight the pandemic, protect our health, and safely adapt to the COVID-19 situation.” His statement reflects the focus of discussion at this seminar around what the health sector needs to do to help the people of Vietnam adapt to the COVID-19 pandemic.
