For COVID Management Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences today conducted mock drill to test all the resources.The drill was mainly aimed to have better preparations with regard to required resources for COVID management and adress deficiencies in advance.
Medical Superintendent SKIMS informed that forty dummy patients were arranged for the drill and the Geriatric ward with 31 beds with all facilities was used for the drill. Consultants and Resident staff from General Medicine, Critical Care Medicine and Nursing/ paramedic staff was present.
While giving the details he said that the mock drill was conducted in presence of Director SKIMS and all the arrangements were made in advance. Residents from the Department of Hospital Administration coordinated the drill. The drill was conducted right from admission of the patient to the final discharge / death of the patient. Besides, all the resources including manpower, equipments such as Ventilators, Monitors, High Flow Devices and Infusion Pumps were put to test. Availability of drugs like; I. V. Fluids, Antibiotics, Steroids, Antiviral, Electrolytes, Life saving drugs were also put to test.
During the mock exercise Senior Residents Anesthesia/ Critical Care Medicine and Geriatric Medicine resuscitated critical patients and ordered for all the necessary logistics. Availability was found upto the mark. All the Oxygen Ports were used simultaneously and there was no drop in Oxygen pressure. The functioning of UPS backup was also tested. However, for more effective and smooth functioning availability of Portable ECG Machine, Portable X-Ray Machine and USG Machines need to be addressed on priority. Other than this more Invasive Ventilators and Invasive Monitors and High Flow Devices need to be arranged.
Also Syringe Infusion Pumps need to be arranged and for NIV there is need of bulk stock of NIV masks of different sizes at sales counter. Disposable ventilator tubing’s in bulk stock and HFNC accessories also need to be kept available in bulk stock.
It is pertinent to mention that Chief Secretary in a recent review meeting of COVID taken along with the heads of various medical institutions had desired of conducting the mock drills for better preparations.