RHUH and Rizk Hospitals’ Medical Personnel All Set to treat COVID-19 Patients
Rafic Hariri University Hospital and LAU Medical Center- Rizk Hospital are functioning in an emergency mode to contain and mitigate the rapid spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s taking all necessary measures to care for patients and counting on their medical personnel to face this contagious safely.
The two hospitals set up an entire inpatient hospital floor equipped with negative pressure and dedicated to the care of patients infected with the virus and suffering from respiratory manifestations of the disease.
Doctors and nurses are at the frontline of this pandemic. “I feel compelled to offer whatever help I can provide because that’s what being a doctor is all about,” Dr. Hassan Kachmar, Internist at RHUH says. “Caring for people when they are in need is a valuable sacrifice.”
Kachmar isn’t worried at all because he believes that in his daily job, he is already prone to getting infections and used to dealing with contagious. “If we don’t help our country now, then why did we do medicine in the first place,” he adds.
Visual alerts are posted at the entrance of Rizk Hospital and in strategic places (e.g., waiting for areas, elevators, cafeteria, main entrance) advising visitors about proper hand hygiene and respiratory hygiene.
“The situation seemed scary at the beginning,” says Julia Bashir, Pharm.D at Rizk Hospital, who volunteered to work with COVID-19 patients. “But with all the precautions being taken, we believe we will reach a point we will be able to fight and overcome this pandemic.”
Despite the challenges and the risks that it might expose to her beloved ones, Bashir has decided to stick to her occupation. “I respect my profession, and I believe it’s my duty to serve all patients,” she adds.
The Rafic Hariri University Hospital is another story. It is the first hospital in Lebanon who has started receiving and treating COVID-19 patients. “I’m feeling blessed to be part of the corona team (hero team),” says Eyad Moussawi-MD. “Our roles are still almost the same, history taking a thorough physical exam and follow-ups on the patient.”
Moussawi considers that the main challenges they are facing as a medical team are mainly lacking medical supplies (such as gloves and gowns). Also, there are a few numbers of medical groups (doctors and RNs) as compared to the huge amount of cases that might come.
“Since the beginning of this pandemic, we are committed to providing the best clinical care to our patients to help them get better faster,” Moussawi adds.
RHUH nurses work overtime with all the mental and physical efforts that demand. “We changed many floors since the corona situation started, and when we start to receive patients, our commitment to our job increases even that the job becomes harder,” Aya Kawouk, Nurse at RHUH, says.
“The patients are receiving all the support that they need, and we try to help them overcome the depression caused by having a corona and help understand this health status,” Kawouk adds.
The spread of Coronavirus is accelerating in Lebanon, and many hospitals have started, as part of their efforts to reduce the spread of the virus and to utilize all their precious material and human resources to fight the pandemic primarily. Also, soon they will reach a level where they likely evaluate patients who will require hospitalization at their facility.
