Latest news with #SupriyoChakrabarty
Time of India
7 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Covid-era teleconferences back as hosps struggle with viral load
Kolkata: Several hospitals have gone back to the Covid-time practice of teleconferencing for patient consultations while others have revived their home-care services and reactivated fever clinics to handle the spike in patient load that has continued since early July. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now In the wake of a surge in viral and bacterial infections across the city, which has seen hospital occupancy touch 85%-90%, a hospital on E M Bypass has set up fever clinics at local complexes to ensure early treatment and prevent hospitalisation. BP Poddar Hospital has reintroduced e-consultations and fever clinics that made their debut during Covid. Forty-seven patients received virtual consultations in a week while nine are under home care. "This has helped ease the bed crunch to some extent, reducing demand by 10%-12%. This also ensures that critical patients receive prompt care and recover under expert supervision without the stress of hospitalisation," said Supriyo Chakrabarty, group advisor, BP Poddar Hospital. At Charnock Hospital, teleconsultations are "an integral part of services now". "Home care, on the other hand, offers a seamless continuation of professional care outside the hospital, and we are actively counselling suitable inpatients to opt for this service. Currently, we are running at 70% occupancy and have scope to admit more," said Rupali Basu, group CEO, Charnock Hospital. Desun Hospital has set up a 'neighbourhood connect team' or 'on-site fever clinic' to reach out to patients in the vicinity. "We are actively taking doctors to nearby complexes and residential areas in the evenings and weekends," said Sajal Dutta, chairman & MD, Desun Hospital. Manipal Hospitals, running at 85% of its capacity at present, has revived teleconsultation and home care services too. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now These platforms are helping patients, especially those from the districts or those requiring follow-up care, access specialists remotely, said Ayanabh Debgupta, regional COO, Manipal Hospitals (East). At RN Tagore Hospital (RTIICS), video consultations are being offered to patients, including senior citizens, to ensure they get preferential services without having to get admitted or visit the OPD. "Occupancy is 85% but our operational processes are beefed up to ensure faster discharges and admissions with no waiting period," said R Venkatesh, COO (East) of Narayana Hospitals. Woodlands Hospital, running at full occupancy, is counselling select admitted patients about continuing treatment at home under the care of a competent home-care team. "This helps us optimise bed availability for those who need hospitalisation the most. Fever patients are being thoroughly assessed, and admissions are being recommended only when clinically essential," said Rupak Barua, managing director & CEO.
Time of India
21-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
With cases rising elsewhere, 3 Kol hospitals revive Covid safety steps
Kolkata: At least three private hospitals in Kolkata have revived Covid precautions in the wake of an outbreak in Southeast Asia and the detection of cases in Mumbai, Chennai and Ahmedabad. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Although almost no Covid case has been detected in Kolkata hospitals since last Dec, some have started collecting the travel history of those with symptoms and have recommended use of masks and sanitisers. Two hospitals have set aside isolation wards. BP Poddar Hospital has reintroduced several precautionary measures to ensure safety of patients, visitors, and healthcare staff. "We have reinstated our isolation ward, where we are planning to keep patients with a history of domestic or international travel, who have fever. They are being kept under observation where further treatment is carried out according to protocol," said Supriyo Chakrabarty, group advisor, BP Poddar Hospital. At the hospital's fever clinic, strict hygiene protocols have been revived, including the use of masks, hand sanitisers, and regular sanitisation of the premises. At Peerless Hospital, a two-bed isolation ward has been set aside for patients with Covid symptoms. "So far, we have not received any suspect. In case there is a surge, we will convert an entire ward overnight," said CEO Sudipta Mitra. Although Peerless is yet to begin screening patients with symptoms, it plans to identify those with a travel history to Southeast Asia. "We have not had a single Covid-positive patient since last Sept. Over the last week, we tested two non-Covid coronavirus positives. These are old strains, like 229E and OC 43. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now We are ready to revive Covid-19 tests, though," said Peerless Hospital chief microbiologist Bhaskar Narayan Chaudhuri. He added that the Jn1 strain currently in circulation was unlikely to trigger a severe disease since most have received two-three vaccinations and have developed immunity. Woodlands Hospital has revived use of sanitisers and started a campaign on hand hygiene. "We are keeping an eye on the situation," said CEO Rupak Barua. Charnock Hospital has received a few Covid-19 cases over the last month, though they have been mild and affected those with lower immunity, said Charnock pulmonologist Soumya Sengupta. "The new strain should not be more potent than the one that struck in the third wave. But we need to be careful since any viral infection could spread fast," Sengupta said. "At RN Tagore Hospital, we have isolation beds in the emergency, in the critical care areas, and in the wards. All infectious disease patients are isolated. We are following stringent protocols in all procedural areas to minimise the risk of cross infection during invasive procedures," said R Venkatesh, COO, Narayana Hospitals.
