Mr Charles Vilane, Ermelo MediClinic Manager, said it’s all systems go at Ermelo MediClinic who have taken precautionary measures to accommodate patients who test positive for Covid-19.
The Highvelder was invited to the hospital to see all of the changes that were implemented and sat down with Mr Vilane to discuss their readiness.
A common misconception shared by people, were that patients who test positive, would have to be transferred to the Rob Ferreira Hospital in Mbombela (Nelspruit) for treatment.
According to Mr Vilane, once it was established that the hospital could not possibly accommodate all patients across Mpumalanga, hospitals proficient to treat patients and complying with the safety regulations, were given the green light to treat coronavirus patients locally.
MediClinic therefore had to implement the necessary alterations to be able to ensure the safety of all patients who entered its facility.
“Right from reception, admission, the wards and through to the theater, the hospital has been divided into two sides, namely a Covid side and a non-Covid side,” Mr Vilane said.
Four high dependency beds are available which are reserved for patients who would potentially need oxygen, there are also beds available in the isolation ward, pediatric ward as well as a maternity ward with an isolated delivery room.
In the event that the hospital reaches its capacity, patients will be referred to other hospitals that can accommodate them.
“If scientists are correct in their predictions of Covid-19 peaking in November, we are fortunate in that the influenza season might almost be over, meaning that more beds might be available.”
The hospital’s visiting hours policy which were usually from 8am-8pm, has been suspended during the day with the exception of neonatal babies where the mothers are present, the pediatric ward where a single live-in parent is allowed and also at the maternity ward and delivery room where the father is allowed access.
“In the case of people who have dying relatives in hospital, we also try to accommodate them, although there are certain preventative measures the hospital has adopted to ensure that this is done in the safest possible way.”
Mr Vilane also said that once the upsurge or peak of the virus has been reached, plans have been put in place to make use of a tablet, which have already been bought, through which relatives will be able to communicate with their loved ones during visiting hours.
To the question of whether the hospital was equipped sufficiently with the necessary equipment and resources to deal with severe cases, Mr Vilane said that although Mediclinic Ermelo does not have an Intensive Care Unit (ICU), they have established a preparedness plan and bed bureau with all other hospitals, meaning that the number of available beds at other hospitals are communicated between hospitals on a daily basis to ensure the swift transfer of patients that might require intensive care intervention
Regarding tests conducted at the hospital, Mr Vilane said that they usually take about 48 hours as there are not currently backlog issues as experienced in some areas elsewhere.
This he said might, however, change as the restrictions per lockdown level is eased and more people get infected.
“We are also testing all people who are about to be admitted in the hospital regardless of whether they are showing symptoms.”
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