COVID-19: AIIMS starts e-ICU conference for healthcare professionals

NEW DELHI: The All India Institute of Medical Sciences, or AIIMS, has started a video-consultation program for frontline doctors dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic.

The video consultation program, or ‘e-ICU’, started in the first week of July.

In this program the authorities are conducting case-management discussions among the doctors who are at the frontline and dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said in a statement on Monday.

Objective

The primary objective of the program is to reduce the mortality rate of COVID-19 disease.

This is realized by sharing experiences and “strengthening best practices among hospitals with 1000 beds, including isolation beds, oxygen supported and ICU beds,” the statement added.

How it works

Through the e-ICU’ the AIIMS, Delhi is bridging the gap between healthcare professionals working across the country.

Their shared experiences, advice and research and new ideas are expected to strengthen the fight against COVID-19.

The discussion sessions under AIIMS’ e-ICU program last for 1.5 to 2 hours.

A significant number of issues are covered through video conferencing.

Topics covered

The statement said the program covered current indications and the need to limit prescriptions based on social-media pressure.

It also covered the need for rational use of ‘Investigational Therapies’ like Remdesevir, convalescent plasma and Tocilizumab.

The need for repeat testing, admission and discharge criteria, management of post discharge symptoms, and return to work were also discussed.

The statement added that the ‘e-ICU’ also discussed methods of communication with patients, screening of healthcare workers, managing new-onset diabetes, uncommon presentations such as stroke, diarrhoea and myocardial infarction.

Sessions and locations

Four sessions of the video consultation program covered 43 institutions in 11 states.

Tamil Nadu topped with 13 institutions attending the ‘e-ICU’ program while Maharashtra came next with 10 institutions, followed by Assam with 5.

Three institutions each from Goa, Delhi and Gujarat participated in the program along with one each from Karnataka, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and two institutions from Telangana.

The ‘e-ICU’ video consultation program aims to cover small healthcare facilities, which are those with 500 beds or more.

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