Vi 
Implementing Decision No. 3992/QĐ-BYT dated 18th August 2021 the Ministry of Health on the assignment of upper-level hospitals to directly provide professional support in the management and treatment COVID-19 in Ho Chi Minh City. On the morning of 27th August Bach Mai Hospital (Hanoi) had a direct meeting at FV Hospital
The delegation included many leading experts and doctors from Bach Mai Hospital
At the meeting, the leader – Prof. Dr Nguyen Quang Tuan (Director of Bach Mai Hospital, Director of the Intensive Care Unit for COVID-19 patients) and the delegation from Bach Mai Hospital inspected all areas receiving and treating COVID-19 patients at FV Hospital. Accordingly, the delegation highly appreciated the efforts by the personnel and the organisation for upgrading the facilities at FV Hospital serving and treating patients with SARS-COV-2.
In the following inspection,, Dr Do Ngoc Son (Deputy Director of the Intensive Care Unit for COVID-19 patients) shared: “FV is an international hospital, but it still accepts many patients who cannot afford to be treated. I think that shows the community responsibility, as well as the nobility of the medical profession.” On behalf of the delegation, Dr Son also offered a number of solutions on expanding the reception area at the Emergency and Accident Department, changing the process flow in the hospital building to ensure the safety for patients and staff at FV.
Based on practical experience in the treatment of COVID-19 patients, the delegation of Bach Mai Hospital also emphasised the process of economical and correct use of personal protective equipment (PPE), especially masks, according to the guidance of the Ministry of Health. As a result, medical facilities that are receiving treatment of F0 patients will ensure the supply of PPE for frontline staff, reduce the cost of medical supplies, and minimise infection risk for medical staff.
The delegation inspected the treatment of COVID-19 patients in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU)
During the working session, both teams agreed on a mechanism for transferring treatment between hospitals. Dr Nguyen Quoc Thai (Head of ICU Department – Intensive Care Unit for COVID-19 patients) said that the Intensive Care Unit for COVID-19 patients, operated by Bach Mai Hospital at Field Hospital No 16 (Dao Tri Street, District 7, Ho Chi Minh City) currently maintains a communication channel for remote consultation for some cases at FV Hospital. In addition, the field hospital will also try to support F0 cases being treated at FV, possibly moving to more appropriate treatment areas, at Field Hospital No16.
Dr Trinh Van Hai (Head of Accident & Emergency Department) shared difficulties in receiving F0 patients
Representative of FV Hospital, Dr Do Trong Khanh (Medical Director) also reported some difficulties and the efforts of the hospital, especially during increased demand for COVID-19 treatment at the end of last July. Dr Khanh said, along with the treatment of COVID-19 patients, the hospital continued to operate other departments and must ensure the high quality standards set by our JCI Accreditation Body. “This caused certain challenges for FV in terms of maintaining sufficient staffing levels to ensure the safety for each and every case”.
Inspecting the process for transferring patients at FV Hospital
On behalf of the Board of Directors of FV Hospital, Dr Do Trong Khanh thanked the delegation of Bach Mai Hospital. Through the sharing and suggestions from experts in COVID-19 prevention and treatment, FV Hospital will further improve its treatment to meet the needs of F0 patients in the region.
In order to meet the community’s need for COVID-19 treatment, last year, FV Hospital has started planning the “split hospital”. In mid-July 2021, when hospitalisation for SARS-COV-2 increased rapidly, FV also actively expanded the inpatient COVID-19 treatment area, the isolation reception area at the Accident and Emergency Department and other areas including the separate sampling test area outside the hospital building. Currently, the COVID-19 treatment area has 63 treatment beds, 11 ventilator-support beds, and 15 HFNC (High Flow Oxygen Therapy) systems.
In addition, the Board of Directors also implemented multiple plans to increase staffing and investments in the best machinery and equipment to support the smooth progress of the treatment of COVID-19 patients at FV. The goal of the hospital is to cooperate as much as possible in the prevention and control of the whole city of Ho Chi Minh City.
