In a move that could provide relief for the Covid-19 pandemic patients in the Capital, the Delhi Government announced on May 15 that all those requiring oxygen support at home post hospital discharge will be provided with oxygen concentrators at their residence.
In order to implement this, the Government has written to all hospitals to appoint a nodal officer to provide information about patients who will be requiring oxygen support at home after discharge.
An Indian Express report quoted what was written by Dr. B.S. Charan, Additional Director (Public Health Wing IV) of the Directorate General of Health Services to all hospital heads. “It has been decided that the patients discharged from COVID hospital who would require Domiciliary Oxygen Support at home post discharge, will be provided Oxygen Concentrators at home for Domiciliary Short-Term Oxygen Therapy (STOT). A nodal officer has been appointed in each district to coordinate the provision of oxygen concentrator for STOT.”
He also asked the hospitals to designate a nodal officer at their facility. He wrote: “You are required to designate a nodal officer at your facility, who will be responsible for sharing details of COVID-19 recovered patients requiring Domiciliary Oxygen Support post discharge with STOT requirement at home, with the concerned district nodal officer by 11 a.m. daily.”
The hospital nodal officers will be required to furnish the details of the patient, namely, their name, age, sex, district of residence post discharge, complete and detailed address, contact number of the patient or care giver, estimated time of discharge, and recommendation of the doctor for Domiciliary Oxygen Support post discharge with STOT requirement.
Dr. Charan also asked the hospitals to clearly mention the need for oxygen in the discharge slip. “With respect to the above patient details, it should be ensured that the requirement of STOT at home post recovery is clearly mentioned in the discharge slip being provided to the patients/care-giver, along with the estimated flow-rate prescribed.”
