|
Soroka Medical Center began preparing in February to deal with the outbreak, designating a dedicated team of experts who have implemented best-practices and highly innovative procedures for the intake, isolation, medical care and special logistics procedures required for cases of patients with suspected infection with Corona. The hospital is actively carrying out hundreds of laboratory tests daily to identify the virus, as our Virology lab is one of four licensed laboratories for this test in Israel.
The dedicated complex is itself “isolated”, situated apart from the other hospital buildings, protecting regular hospital operations from disruption. The complex is carefully designed with emphasis on reducing the risk of exposure to the virus. The compound has one virus-positive ward, with two rooms that can provide care for respiratory patients if needed. In a second ward, patients suspected of having the virus will be admitted before receiving a laboratory response. There is complete separation between the two units. We are currently completing the preparation of of teo additional areas: one with 93 beds for COVID-19 patients who do not require ventilation, and another for 33 patients requiring ventilation.
A CCTV is installed for communication with patients, monitoring and control. Innovative Tele-medicine technologies will be utilized through sensors that monitor the patient continuously and through the telehealth Tyto device, which allows remote and diagnostic testing and heat measurement, and transmits data to the care team.
This week, Soroka opened three tents adjacent to the Coronavirus unit, to accommodate expanded testing and triage, as the hospital braces for the predicted wave of new patients. We have developed contingency plans to allocate 700 addional beds (nearly 60% of our total capacity) to COVID-19 patients.
The complex has a dedicated team led by Dr. Leonid Barsky, Director of Internal Medicine Division 6 at Soroka, together with Senior Physician Dr. Eli Rosenberg and medical, nursing and social workers who have been trained to use protective measures. The teams underwent special simulations at "Simulna", a unique mobile training facility of Clalit Health Services stationed at Soroka, enabling them to practice therapeutic skills with innovative and sophisticated technology that simulates a hospital environment. The teams simulate unconventional situations, including self-protective methods of performing life-saving operations such as insertion of a transfusion, probe and catheter, while being protected in protective clothing.
Dr. Shlomi Codish, Director of Soroka Medical Center, stated "This is a complex logistical preparation that involves hundreds of dedicated Soroka staff from all sectors enlisted in the mission. Establishing a dedicated compound for the absorption of Corona patients provides a response to the population suspected of having and ill with the virus and plays a huge role in preventing the infection from spreading to the general population.”
Soroka is uniquely prepared for this strategic role in containing and treating the Corona Virus in Israel, given our status as the top hospital in Israel for infection control over the past two years, and the only hospital that has achieved and maintained the status of Joint Commission International accreditation for ten years.
It is though our partnership with friends and supporters like yourself that Soroka suceeds in meeting these challenges. With profound appreciation, we wish you a Happy, Healthy and Safe holiday.
|
