The new year brings new opportunities and lots of positive energy along. People were optimistic about this new decade until it hit the world with a surprise of Coronavirus – Covid-19. It seemed like any other virus and disease, but it spiraled into a global pandemic in less than 90 days. In the past eight months, it has infected 20 million people across 200 countries, claiming more than 700,000 lives. Whereas 25% of the cases are from the United States since over five million people have been infected.
Unfortunately, the healthcare institutes and leaders were clueless about this outspread, resulting in a shortage of resources. The government ensures all safety protocols through smart lockdowns, increasing availability of healthcare, and promoting free tests. All this was not possible without persistent help from private organizations. It steps in as a significant partner and stakeholder to support the government in these uncertain times.
They took rapid action against this virus by expanding the testing infrastructure to make it available to more people. Similarly, they arrange test kits, PPE equipment, and oxygen cylinders to facilitate people in the best possible way. Countries such as Singapore, Japan, and South Korea have successfully eliminated the virus because of the active participation of the private sector.
If you wish to learn more, here we are unfolding the contribution of private organizations in curtailing the adversity of Covid-19.
AFFORDABLE COVID-19 TESTING
Although the government is trying to get sufficient test kits, accommodating 382 million people is impossible. As a result, private hospitals and laboratories are developing test kits to facilitate patients. They seek approval from the FDA and then proceed to test the patients. The top-notch laboratories like PrimexLabs have conducted thousands of tests up till now, delivering meaningful results to the people. If the symptoms are adverse, private institutes send reports in a day, whereas it usually takes three days.
The goal is to pull people out from this deadly virus and limit the outspread. Alongside offering tests at reasonable prices, they provide an in-home testing service. Patients call to request for screening where the physician detects symptoms and approves requests for the test. It ensures efficient usage of test kits, eliminating wastage. The experts come at your doorsteps to perform the tests. Moreover, by integrating technology, private labs send reports online through email or have a portal to check results, limiting exposure to the outside world.
HIGH-QUALITY CARE & SUPERVISION
Multi-disciplinary teams are working tirelessly to provide maximum care for Covid-19 patients. All infection-prevention protocols are as per the guidelines of the World Health Organization WHO and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC. Covid-19 patients have a separate department for treatment, and these spaces use negative air pressure systems to prevent transmission of the virus. The acute care unit treats critical Covid-19 patients because when the oxygen level drops to 30, the person needs artificial breathing through a ventilator.
Moreover, they have clinical units for patients who are fighting this battle. All the groups have a consistent supply of oxygen to combat breathing problems. As for staff, they get geared up in PPE, which includes gloves, gowns, masks, goggles, etc. Besides, people suffering from other illnesses are getting assistance through telehealth. The physicians and doctors are taking online appointments, making sure everyone is staying indoors.
INITIATING RESEARCHES
Unsurprisingly, private hospitals, clinics, and labs have a competent infrastructure – driven by tech-savvy tools. As a result, the majority of researchers prefer to render their services in the private sector. Without the help of epidemiologists, it could have been impossible to detect the virus’s root cause. Firstly, they researched the widespread of the virus and how people are contracting it. As it causes respiratory problems, the results suggest that people contract the virus through mouth and nose. Thus, face masks became mandatory for everyone.
Several researchers are still searching for a cure to this virus, and there have been breakthroughs. The convalescent plasma therapy study determines whether the antibodies from plasma of another person can treat Covid-19 patients. Although the success rate is not 100%, a lot of people have recovered from it. Likewise, to meet the sprouting demand for test kits, healthcare leaders are using 3D printing to create Covid-19 test swaps. Alongside facilitating patients, these researches are reducing the impact of the virus.
EDUCATING THE PUBLIC TO LIMIT OUTSPREAD
The symptoms of Covid-19 are quite common – flu, fever, cough, due to which people think it is happening because of the changing weather. Hence, you might not realize you have coronavirus until you lose your sensitivity to smell and taste – another significant symptom. Private hospitals are holding the bag to spread awareness amongst people. Doctors and nurses are conducting shows on television, posting videos on social media to create awareness and inform the public about the virus.
Likewise, they have opened several emergency helplines – where people can call and discuss their symptoms. If someone has a cough and fever yet is not seeking help – you can contact these helplines and inform the authorities. They have a robust system, meaning they can track down the person themselves. Many private laboratories are distributing free masks and sanitizers to curb the outspread of the virus.
ASSISTING PUBLIC HOSPITALS
The public sector is solely dependent on government funding, not enough to meet the rising demand. As a result, private organizations collaborating with public hospitals to provide assistance and support in these tough times. Due to the shortage of healthcare workers, they send nurses and doctors, ensuring no compromise of the citizen’s health. Institutes with enough resources are also training staff at government hospitals for emergency care of Covid-19 patients.
Similarly, it is schooling the staff how to integrate technology, helping them switch to telehealth. Some hospitals are also playing a leading role in designing isolation centers. All the hospitals running short of tests or PPE, private healthcare owners are distributing resources free of costs or at minimal rates. They also encourage the government to leverage technology and reap benefits of 3D printing for creating test kits.
CONCLUSION
As emergency rooms are full of Coronavirus patients, the private sector stands ready to share resources and help the country in this challenging time. They are joining this fight by creating a Covid-19 centric department in hospitals to aid patients. Simultaneously, they conduct tests, provide PPE gear, and initiate research to erase the virus from this world. These joint efforts have been quite successful to some extent in reducing the outspread of the virus.