Home medical care Staff at 16% or more of nationwide facilities suffered from corona infection and heavy contact 20:02 on June 16
Regarding the home medical care in which doctors visit and treat patients at home, etc., a specialized academic society investigated how the new coronavirus was affected, and facilities nationwide providing home medical care. About 16% of the staff members became infected and became a deep contact with the infected person, and it was found that some had to stop the medical treatment.
Home medical care is being promoted by the government and other countries as the quality of life is improved because patients are treated at home, where they are used to, and it is said that there are 700,000 patients nationwide.
The Japan Association for Home Health Care conducted a survey late last month targeting clinics nationwide that provide home health care, and received responses from 316 facilities.
According to it, 51%, which is more than 16%, said that doctors, nurses, and clerical staff responded that they were infected with the new coronavirus, were suspicious, or became concentrated contacts of infected people, Twelve of these have had to stop at least some of their treatment.
In addition, when asked if there were rumors or disadvantages in social life, 54 out of 284 institutions responded, 19% of which responded that 54 were “yes”, and were just medical professionals. It is said that there were management losses at 45 locations, as staff were unable to go to work and the number of patients refraining from receiving medical examinations due to the decline in the use of nursery schools and facilities.
Furthermore, 82.5% of the total respondents said they lacked the materials to prevent infections such as masks and gowns, and it became clear that it was difficult to maintain medical care as the infections spread.
President Yasunori Ishigaki, President of the Society, said, “If we do not visit, patients will not be able to access medical care. To support the next wave of infection, we will not only provide support systems for supplies, but also how to support infected and suspected patients at home. I want to prepare for it by giving medical treatment or revising the manual."
At-home medical care sites with infection risk
In the field of home medical care, elderly patients who have a high risk of becoming seriously ill and who have a chronic disease continue to receive medical care while having the risk of being infected without being noticed.
Dr. Takuya Shinshiro, who has been providing palliative care for cancer patients at home in Kobe for seven years, has visited around 30 patients' homes and facilities to provide medical treatment.
In Kobe City, the infection with the new coronavirus has spread since March, and the materials for preventing infections such as masks and gowns are no longer available. Is that I did not get.
For this reason, it is possible to reduce the chances of contacting the staff of the clinic by working from home, and when treating a patient who has a fever, call out from the front door and check the condition without going into the house. , I continued my medical care while devising it.
Many of the patients in charge are those with advanced cancer, and some died, but no one was confirmed infected.
Dr. Shinshiro said, ``I feel that I may be related to the coronavirus if there is something unnatural in my life until I die, I may be infected with the virus and I continue to treat with fear. I was there."
In addition, Dr. Shinshiro is under pressure to revisit the style of home visits.
Since many of the patients are elderly and deaf, until now, it was important to make sure that they could communicate with each other with their faces close to each other while maintaining a skinship, such as by holding their arms at a close distance, and ensuring communication. , After the infection has spread, I am wearing a mask and auscultating without sitting in front of the patient, or shortening the time to bring my face closer when speaking.
However, in some cases it is difficult to reach the patient, and the important thing is to write it on paper and leave it.
Dr. Shinshiro said, "I have been able to do most of what I have valued in my medical treatment. I have to continue to devise whether I can keep my heart close to me even if I am far away. I think."