top of page

Medical staff in Italy pause at 1 p.m. to make a call

Writer's picture: Aurika SavickaiteAurika Savickaite

Updated: Jul 22, 2020


Health care providers at a hospital in Italy pause each day at 1 p.m. to call families of their patients who have COVID-19.

Call Families of Their Patients Who Have COVID-19

According to a Reuters article, the noon-hour used to be visiting hours for family, but not anymore. Patients who are hospitalized are isolated from family due to restrictions in place to stop the spread of the virus.


Whenever a patient with coronavirus is accepted into his hospital, he says, the staff write an email to their relatives assuring them that their loved ones will be treated “like family.” He says the hospital is trying to activate a system of video-conferencing, so that patients can see their relatives during the 1 p.m. call.

Marco Resta, deputy head of Policlinico San Donato’s Intensive Care Unit, said 50% of patients admitted to ICUs in Italy are dying. Hospitals are accepting only patients who need life-saving ventilation.


Maurizio Cecconi, MD, head of Anesthesia and Intensive Care at Humanitas Research Hospital in Milan, said in an interview with JAMA Editor Howard Bauchner that his hospital triages patients to determine those who can be sent home and those who need an ICU bed. He said they make no distinction between people who need an ICU bed for COVID-19 or for other reasons, such as organ failure or trauma.


Patients who are elderly and with underlying conditions are more at risk for complications of COVID-19, according to the CDC. They are more likely to be hospitalized in intensive care to receive ventilation help breathing.


Noninvasive ventilation via helmet is an alternative solution for patients who can tolerate it. Studies have shown NIV via helmet reduces the rate of intubation among patients who get better faster and have a lower mortality rate.


However, until the spread is halted, it’s unclear how families will be able to see their loved ones who are hospitalized, particularly those who are sedated for mechanical ventilation.

2,654 views

Comments


Subscribe to Our Newsletter

2020-03-23_21h05_40.png

DISCLAIMER: All research and clinical material published on this website is for informational purposes only. Readers are encouraged to confirm the information contained herein with other sources. Patients and consumers should review the information carefully with their professional health care provider. The information is not intended to replace medical advice offered by physicians. This website will not be liable for any direct, indirect, consequential, special, exemplary, or other damages arising therefrom. 

We share tips and ideas from those using helmets, but these may be off-label and untested ideas and should not be construed as medical advice, FDA approved modifications or proven safe or effective.  Please consider these with caution.

Supported by Hospital safety barriers.

  • LinkedIn
  • White Facebook Icon

© 2020 - 2024 Helmet-based Ventilation Inc

bottom of page