Private hospitals in Kolkata reopen fever clinics to screen patients

KOLKATA: The queue of dengue patients waiting for admission has lengthened across private hospitals, some of which have restarted their fever clinics that had been launched during the pandemic to screen patients with symptoms. Due to high occupancy, most hospitals are admitting only those with severe symptoms while the rest are being advised medicines and asked to report if their condition worsens.
Medica Superspecialty Hospital has started screening patients with dengue symptoms at its ‘dedicated fever clinic’.“It is an integral part of the internal medicine outpatient department. This clinic is designed to give priority to patients with fever-related symptoms, facilitating swift access to consulting physicians without the need for advance appointments. Currently, 29 patients are admitted at Medica with dengue,” said Tanmay Banerjee, director of the Medica Institute of Critical Care and Internal Medicine. He added that more than 20 patients are in queue for admission.
Woodlands Hospital, too, has restarted its fever clinic. “We have a running flu clinic for patients suffering from respiratory diseases where those with dengue symptoms are being screened now. We have 18 patients admitted with dengue. Over and above, all physicians continue to see fever cases in their consulting rooms,” said Rupali Basu, MD & CEO.
At Desun Hospital, a fever clinic has been started at emergency department due to a ‘high footfall of dengue and malaria patients’. It has received over 500 dengue patients since July. “Doctors provide consultation and awareness to patients about dengue management and those with mild symptoms are being asked to stay at home,” said director Shaoli Dutta.
Peerless Hospital, which has no fever clinic yet, has 57 dengue patients admitted — the highest this year so far. “We are getting those with symptoms undergo NS1 test and asking them to wait for report which takes two-three hours. If the report is positive and the patient has severe symptoms, he or she is admitted immediately. Here, we are giving priority to those who have had fever for 4-5 days,” said CEO Sudipta Mitra.
At RN Tagore International Institute of Cardiac Sciences (RTIICS), fever patients are being kept in an emergency isolation area that is serving as a fever clinic. “If a patient comes with dengue, then we keep the patient in resuscitation bay which is a five-bed set-up opposite the isolation area and then shift to the ward or critical care,” said Narayana Hospitals COO R Venkatesh. He added that the hospital has 14 dengue patients.
AMRI Hospitals have seen dengue admissions soar to more than 70 at three units in two weeks. It has opened a screening facility at its emergency for patients and those with symptoms. “Doctors are assessing them and then either admitting them or asking them to stay under medication at home. Every patient can’t be admitted since we are running at capacity,” said AMRI CEO Rupak Barua.