TREND OF HOSPITAL CARE SERVICES DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL IN PROVINCE 5

Abstract

Introduction: Health systems all around the globe have greatly been affected by increasing demand for care of people with COVID-19. A well-prepared health system should have the capacity to maintain equitable essential health services in any pandemic or emergency. In this current scenario, this study aims to study the trends of hospital care services in one of the remote tertiary hospital of province 5. The aim of the study was to assess the trends of various important health services along with the onset of COVID-19 pandemic. This study reflected how the COVID-19 pandemic affected health care services and assessed the trends of services provided over the last seven months (March 1st to September 31st, 2020) following the onset of a pandemic.

Material and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in which data of number of outpatient department cases, emergency cases, inpatients, deliveries, number of surgeries (major and minor), and the number of ultra-sonographic services were collected. Data of seven months prior to onset of pandemic (August 15th, 2019 to March 15th, 2020) were compared with data of seven months following the onset of the pandemic (March 16th to October 16th, 2020) were recorded, compared and plotted.

Results: In regard to inpatients, there was an increment by 47.57%, number of emergency cases increment by 41.90% and the number of delivery increments by 94.70% was detected compared to seven months’ data prior to the onset of the pandemic. On the other hand, a reduction in total OPD, total number of surgeries, and USG by 32.7%, 13.04%, 5.26% respectively was detected. Looking through the trend, there was a decline in the number of outpatient department visits, inpatient cases and emergency cases initially for three months (March – May) following onset of pandemic but along with an upsurge of COVID pandemic there was a marked increase in these services.

Conclusions: The depiction of such trends of seeking and use of health services in resourcelimited tertiary centers during this pandemic reflects the need of strengthening the overall health system. It also emphasizes the importance of the need of addressing non-COVID services during pandemic, which was greatly affected by COVID-19.