Due to the rapid spread of the new coronavirus infection, the number of people receiving medical treatment at home in Tokyo has exceeded 19,000, which is the largest number ever, and is increasing rapidly.
Some patients have no choice but to be treated at home, even though their symptoms worsen until oxygen is administered.
At a company that collaborates with multiple medical institutions, mainly in the Tokyo metropolitan area, to visit doctors at night, on holidays, and on behalf of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, registered doctors visit the home caregivers of the new Corona. We provide medical care.
Although it was judged by the public health center that hospitalization was necessary, there were a number of cases in which the recipients could not be adjusted, and in the week following the beginning of August, pneumonia and other problems worsened among the home recuperators in the Tokyo metropolitan area. There were 35 cases of oxygen administration.
Of these, a man in his 40s who lived alone had been receiving medical treatment for about a week, and his symptoms worsened, such as severe coughing during the home visit, so oxygen was administered, and a couple in their 60s and 40 In the case where his son was infected, his two sons needed to be hospitalized, but he could not make adjustments and the three family members continued to receive medical treatment at home.
In the 4th wave, the number of home care patients increased rapidly in Osaka, mainly elderly people, but in the 5th wave, there were cases in which the symptoms worsened until oxygen was administered to patients in their 30s and 40s who had no underlying disease. It means that they are one after another.
Dr. Ryo Kikuchi, the representative of the "Fast Doctor" who visits the hospital, said, "If the number of infected people continues to increase, patients will not be able to receive appropriate medical care in the right place. There may be times when we cannot help. I would like to provide as much medical care as possible and protect it, but I also ask for thorough infection control measures. "
The health center did not adjust the hospitalization decision for a week
The footage taken by a company that a doctor visits a home recuperator on behalf of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government shows a patient who has to be recuperated at home even though his symptoms worsen until oxygen is administered. Was done.
A man in his 40s living alone in Tokyo was infected with the new coronavirus and was judged by the health center to be hospitalized, but he could not make adjustments and continued to receive medical treatment at home for about a week. rice field.
He complained of high fever and difficulty breathing, and occasionally coughed violently while the doctor visited him.
When the oxygen level in the blood was measured with a pulse oximeter, the value dropped to the first half of 90%, and it was judged that the condition could lead to serious illness if treatment was not started.
For this reason, we brought in a medical device called an "oxygen concentrator" and attached a tube to the patient's nose to administer oxygen and increase the amount of oxygen.
Then, the oxygen value picked up.
However, I did not know when the symptoms would worsen, so the nurse decided to check the condition by telephone etc. every 3 hours.
Dr. Ryo Kikuchi, who visited the hospital, said, "I had severe respiratory distress and a fever of 40 degrees, and it was a symptom that made me suspect that pneumonia had progressed considerably. I don't think there is a situation, but I want to deal with it as much as possible. "
The whole family is infected. Even if you need to be hospitalized, you will be treated at home.
A couple in their 60s and a son in their 40s who live in Tokyo are all infected and continue to receive medical treatment at home.
My son in his 40s complained that he had a fever in the 37s and felt uncomfortable around his chest.
The father in his 60s had no symptoms, but the mother in his 60s complained of a fever of 39 degrees and suffocation.
Occasionally, my son and mother are coughing hard and feel sick and unable to eat.
The health center determined that the mother and son needed to be hospitalized, but could not make adjustments, and the doctor administered oxygen with an "oxygen concentrator" as an emergency measure and infused it.
Mothers in their 60s had blood oxygen levels that dropped to the late 80%, and sons in their 40s also had levels that dropped to the early 90%.
A father in his 60s told the staff he visited, "I was infected by three people, I couldn't go outside, and I didn't know what to do."
Dr. Ryo Kikuchi, who visited the hospital, said, "Patients who need to be hospitalized cannot be hospitalized and are overflowing at home. What kind of medical support will be provided to such patients? Patients are likely to be overwhelmed by anxiety. There are many people who have become ill. I don't know where my medical condition is and what will happen in the future, and I think I'm living in a really difficult situation. I want to be treated. "