43 hospitals across 11 states covered by AIIMS video consultation programme: Health Ministry

Having covered 43 hospitals across 11 states this month, AIIMS Delhi teleconsultation guidance programme for state doctors on COVID clinical manment would reach out to ICU doctors at smaller healthcare facilities in coming weeks, Health Ministry said on Monday.

To strengn government's efforts to reduce COVID mortality, AIIMS Delhi had started 'e-ICU' video consultation for state doctors on COVID clinical manment earlier this month. In a statement, Health Ministry said four sessions have been held till date covering 43 institutions across 11 states.

se include ten institutions in Mumbai, three in Goa, three in Delhi, three in Gujarat and two in Telangana, statement said. video consultation program in coming weeks would cover ICU doctors from smaller healthcare facilities across country, it said.

Each of se sessions conducted through video conference span over 1.5 to 2 hours. discussions have covered entire range of issues related to manment of COVID-19 patients, Health Ministry said.

"Some of important issues that have been stressed upon are need for rational use of 'Investigational rapies' like Remdesevir, convalescent plasma and Tocilizumab. treating teams have discussed current indications and possible harm due to ir indiscriminate use and need to limit social-media pressure based prescriptions," it said.

ministry said  use of proning, high flow oxygen, n-invasive ventilation and ventilator settings for advanced disease has also been a common discussion point.

" role of various testing strategies in diagsing COVID-19 has also been an important topic of shared learning. Issues such as need for repeat testing, admission and discharge criteria, manment of post-discharge symptoms, and return to work have been addressed," it added.

Some of or common concerns have been methods of communication with patients, screening of health-care workers, managing new-onset diabetes, uncommon presentations such as stroke, diarrhoea and myocardial infarction etc, it said.

" team from AIIMS, New Delhi was able to act as a bridge for new kwledge from one group to or at each VC, apart from advising from its own experience and extensive literature reviews done by domain experts," statement said.