Hospital seeking care for new corona patients July 2, 15:52

A family member who lived normally with him was infected with the new coronavirus, and his condition deteriorated.

However, because of the isolation ward, he could not meet and died.

It is a reality one after another in various places.

As the fight against the virus continues for a long time, hospitals are looking for ways to "take care" in order to alleviate the sadness of their families.

(Okayama Broadcasting Station reporter Kazuaki Hirama)

Death of a new corona patient Difficult care

Patients who die of the new coronavirus are generally double-wrapped in a special bag called a "delivery bag" and cremated to prevent infection.

A gray "delivery bag" with a zipper around it to hold the body.

The family is taken to the funeral company's car and cremated without being able to see their faces or say goodbye to the end.

In most cases, funerals and farewell ceremonies are not possible.

The scene is tight due to the rapid increase in infected people

In May, in Okayama Prefecture, where a state of emergency was declared, all indicators of infection status became the most serious "Stage IV", and the bed usage rate temporarily reached about 85%.

The death toll announced during the month of May was 62, accounting for two-thirds of the cumulative total.

Only one day was the announcement of the deceased.

A doctor at a hospital revealed his distress, saying, "We have to prioritize patient acceptance and treatment."

Doctors and nurses who are worried about not being able to "care"

A medical institution in Okayama prefecture where patients died one after another.

Doctors and nurses were worried about not being able to be cared for by their families.

Masako Ishii, who is the chief nurse in the Corona Ward of Okayama Saiseikai General Hospital in Okayama City, is one of them.

For illnesses other than the new corona, patients can be visited by their families before they reach their end.

However, in the Corona Ward, it is difficult from the viewpoint of infection control, and the shock of the family is immeasurable.

Masako Ishii

"It

's

hard for nurses that their families can't even take care of them at the end."

84-year-old woman spectacular 23 days

Mr. Ishii talked about a difficult case of caring for a patient.

The patient is an 84 year old female.

On April 18, the woman complained of a feeling of discomfort in her throat and was taken to the hospital by ambulance.

As a result of PCR test, it was found that he was infected with the new corona.

It is believed to have been infected by the day service used by women.

The woman was confirmed to be infected with the mutant, but was relatively well when she was hospitalized.

I was able to walk alone with a fever and a feeling of discomfort in my throat.

However, the condition suddenly changed in May.

The lungs shown on the X-ray were entirely white.

Pneumonia was progressing.

"Oxygen saturation", which indicates how much oxygen is taken into the body, and body temperature fluctuate.

Due to prolonged hospitalization and the effects of drugs, a symptom called "delirium" has also begun to occur, which causes temporary confusion in conversation and behavior.

The second daughter tears at the first visit

During the Golden Week holidays in May, my second daughter, who lives with me, visited for the first time.

My second daughter was also infected and was receiving medical treatment at home, so it was the first time in about two weeks to see her mother's face.

What was projected on the screen during the visit using the tablet was a figure that was far from the mother that the second daughter saw last.

It is said that the second daughter desperately called out to her mother, who was about to become conscious, saying, "Mom, do your best, do your best! Let's go home together!"

Shocked by the debilitated mother's appearance, the second daughter asked Mr. Ishii on his way home, "If my mother died, could I see her?"

Masako Ishii

"I was shocked when I said,'I can't see you after I died.' In particular, I lived with my mother and was taken care of, so I said goodbye at the end. I was wondering if I had to do it. "

I want to meet my favorite mom

Seeing the second daughter who left the hospital while crying, Mr. Ishii began to think, "I want to meet my favorite mother somehow."

So I thought about how to move women to a general ward that doesn't need to be quarantined.

To achieve this, we must consider the four criteria for de-quarantine set by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare.

1 20 days have passed since the onset

2 72 hours have passed since the fever disappeared

3 Improvement of respiratory symptoms

4 PCR test is also considered as appropriate

The first "20 days after onset" must be met, but the rest is controversial among doctors and professionals.

Through his doctor, Mr. Ishii also asked for opinions from the in-hospital infection control team made up of specialists and the Okayama City Health Center.

Women's condition continues to deteriorate

Women will be released from quarantine on May 8th, 20 days after the onset.

However, on May 7, the day before, the condition of the woman got worse.

Pneumonia progressed and blood pressure became unstable.

There was a description in the medical record that "it looks like the end of life".

Mr. Ishii feels impatient whether the family visit will be in time.

However, knowing that she couldn't see her mother, she couldn't tell her second daughter, who was waiting in the hospital waiting room until late at night, that she was about to move to the general ward in case of a sudden change.

I wasn't sure if it could be achieved.

“Departure” while being held by the family

Mr. Ishii was contacted by the public health center before 5 pm on May 10 to approve the release of quarantine for women.

It had been 23 days since I was hospitalized.

Mr. Ishii hurriedly contacted his second daughter and started preparing to move the woman to the general ward.

The woman moved to the general ward and the second daughter was able to meet at around 7 pm.

My breathing became weak and I could have died at any time.

The second daughter is said to have continued to say, "Thank you, mom," while holding the unconscious mother's hand on the bed.

Then, about three hours after the visit, he was sent off by his second daughter and died.

I was able to send out my favorite mother

A week after the woman died, a letter arrived from her second daughter to Mr. Ishii.

The letter said, "I was able to send my favorite mother at a family funeral, and I was satisfied with my heart."

While I am glad that the woman was able to leave while holding her second daughter's hand, Mr. Ishii feels that he was faced with the heavy task of "final care for the new corona patient."

Masako Ishii

"Our goal is to get everyone back in good health, but by discussing what to do when we see the stage of care, we will provide proper care to patients and their families. I want to be a team that can provide. "

How to realize the care of new corona patients

In the medical field, there is the word "gear change".

When you find that you cannot win the fight against illness, spend the precious time left with your family or take care of it, rather than continuing aggressive treatment and having physical and mental pain. Means.

Medical professionals are saying that when patients with the new corona are forced to "gear change", they need a human-like final care time.

Hospitals continue to search for the care of new corona patients.

In Okayama prefecture, some hospitals have their families wear protective clothing to visit them.

However, there is a risk of infection and you cannot visit them often.

At another hospital, attempts have begun to at least have people see their faces using translucent delivery bags.

How to realize the care of new corona patients.

I felt that it was necessary for society as a whole, including the national government, government, and specialists, to consider it, rather than entrusting difficult responses only to medical sites.

Okayama Broadcasting Station reporter

Kazuaki Hirama Covering

the forefront of the medical field fighting against the new corona.

ICU = Close contact with the nurses in the intensive care unit and the hospital where the cluster occurred.