The much-awaited monsoon rains, while bringing immense relief from
the oppressive summer heat, also heralds dreaded cases of diseases like dengue,
chikungunya, typhoid and malaria. Until May 31 2017, even before the onset of
monsoon, a total of 11,402 cases of dengue and 11 deaths due to the virus have been
reported throughout the country. Kerala with 4,735 cases, recorded 41.5% of the total dengue cases. In the capital Delhi, while the numbers haven't gone up as
much, they are certainly on the rise. The latest data released by the Municipal
Corporations of Delhi (MCD) mentions a total of 61 dengue and 131 chikungunya
cases in the city and neighboring areas right from January onwards, which is
usually considered to be a non-transmission period. On a worrying note, there were 21 cases of dengue and 35 of
chikungunya in just one week in June.
As was witnessed in the last few years, the pressure on the
resources of hospitals, both private and public, is enormous during this
season. The Delhi government has already issued a circular directing hospitals
to increase their approved bed strength by 10–20% for a period of six months.
Along with existing wards, these extra beds are to be accommodated in corridors
and waiting areas as well. News about makeshift beds built using stretchers,
sticks and duct tapes isn't uncommon during this period. Such is the toll the
outbreak of dengue and chikungunya can take. This is when alternative health delivery services
like homecare proves to be most efficient in tackling the emergency.
Dr.Gaurav Thukral, Senior
Vice –President and Business Unit
Director, HCAH said, “By providing requisite medical services within the patient’s home,
homecare provides a viable solution for both hospitals and patients. While the
former can widen their reach by freeing beds for new patients during demanding
times like the upsurge in dengue cases, the latter does not have to worry about
not finding adequate care, as all necessary medical set-up will be made
available at their own place of residence. Homecare services cover around 70%
of all healthcare requirements of a patient. This includes pathology tests,
medical equipment rentals and purchases and medicine delivery. Thus, patients
affected with dengue can be effectively treated within the confines of their
homes where they can receive personalized care and undergo treatment and
recovery in an environment they are most comfortable in”.
Dengue is caused by the bite of an infected female mosquito of the
Aedesaegypti species. The mosquito gets infected with the dengue virus when it
feeds on an infected person’s
blood. Symptoms of denguestart manifesting about four to six days after being bitten by an
infected mosquito. A drop in the platelet count is a major characteristic
symptom of dengue fever. The other most common symptoms are high body
temperature, headache, pain behind the eyes, joints and muscles pain, fatigue, nausea and vomiting, skin rashes and low blood pressure. In some
cases, the disease can develop into a more serious form called Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever (DHF). Although the vaccination for dengue fever was approved for use
in dengue endemic areas in April 2016, it is yet to be adopted for use. A
suspected dengue
patient should undergo a few
essential lab-tests in order to confirm the disease and subsequently administer
appropriate course of treatment. These tests include Dengue Serology
test, Dengue
NS1 Antigen test and a complete blood
(platelet) count test. With home based medical services, patientsnow have the option of getting these tests done in their
respective homes. Home healthcare providers like HealthCare atHOME (HCAH)
offers lab sample collection facility at home for dengue patients as well as
for other diseases. This facility has made it convenient for patients who are
already suffering from fever or other illnesses to get the blood tests done
within their comfort zone. This is done by the team of highly trained
DMLT certified phlebotomists and NABL accredited labs.
He further added, “In addition to the growing line of patients, the risks
of hospital-acquired infections can further affect dengue patients while aggravating
the already encumbered hospital infrastructure. Even with the very best of
precautions, it isn't possible to eliminate the risk of infection. Especially
during an emergency like dengue outbreaks, this can be hard to avoid when many
patients are suffering from weak immunity. While dengue itself is a
non-communicable disease, there are chances of contracting several other
infections. Those with existing medical conditions like diabetes and very young
and very old patients face highest risks. The repercussions of
hospital-acquired infections are many. While causing added illness, they can
result in longer recovery time and longer stay in hospitals. This can be
strenuous to both the patients and the hospitals. However, with home based
medical care, the risks of such infections are removed since treatment is done
within the patient’s home. Therefore, homecare isn't just a convenient
healthcare service for patients but is also an extension of the services
provided by regular hospitals. By vacating beds, widening the reach of doctors
and reducing chances of infections, homecare not only proves to be invaluable
but also indispensable for the efficient treatment of dengue and chikungunya”.
Home based healthcare
operates in a simple but well-regulated manner. Consulting doctors and
physicians advise treatments for patients, which the professionally trained
homecare health providers implement accordingly. With the help of advanced
communication technology, doctors are kept in the loop about the patient’s condition
all the time and real-time data can be shared with them. This allows the
doctors to intervene at any point of time, giving them complete control over
their patients and making the care dynamic.
Preparations and
precautions for the outbreak of dengue and chikungunya need to be carried out well in advance. While the government
and the hospitals are doing their part in increasing bed numbers and ensuring
medical resources are up to date, homecare can be a part of this preparatory
measures by being an extension of the hospital services and work as a distributed hospital itself within the
precinct of the patient’s home.
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