Mysore/Mysuru: Taking a step forward in post-COVID care of patients, the Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) will soon be setting up Step Down Clinics or Post-COVID Care Centres across the city to take further care of patients who are discharged from Hospitals after 80 percent recovery from critical illness.

A preliminary meeting in this regard was held at the MCC Old Council Hall here yesterday, during which the idea of Post- COVID Care Centre, put forward by MCC Commissioner Shilpa Nag at a meeting on Wednesday,  was discussed in detail.

The meeting was chaired by MUDA Chairman H.V. Rajeev,  who heads the District-level Task Force on COVID Bed Management.

Addressing the meeting, Rajeev, who received ideas, inputs and valuable suggestions from the participants, said that 10 to 13 locations have been identified for setting up Step Down Clinics.

Noting that hostel buildings of Social Welfare and BCM Welfare Departments, Government Ayurveda College buildings and residential school buildings will be used for setting up the Centres, he said that talks will also be held with Suttur Mutt Seer Sri Shivarathri Deshikendra Swamiji on letting out JSS Institutions buildings for the purpose.

Pointing out that as a first step, a 50-bedded care centre, with four oxygenated beds, will be set up at a suitable location, Rajeev said that COVID patients who have recovered 80 percent after getting treatment at ICU with ventilator support, will be convinced to get discharged from the Hospital, in order to pave way for their shifting to Step Down Clinic, where they will get post- COVID care. Stating that Step Down Clinics will have Doctors, Physiotherapists, Psychiatrists, volunteers and counsellors, he said that a homely like atmosphere in these centres will help boost the morale and psyche of recovered patients.

Maintaining that enhancement of mental and physical strength is key for full recovery of COVID  patients in real terms, Rajeev said that in-depth counselling, physiotherapy, yoga, meditation and the like by professionals will help the patients to develop physical and mental strength and sturdiness. The recovered patients who are admitted in these clinics will be taken care of for a period ranging from 3 to 8 days, he added.

MCC Commissioner Shilpa Nag said that Step Down Clinic is a medically accepted concept, which is being introduced  in the city, perhaps for the first time in the State. Asserting that with rising positive cases, there is a growing demand for hospital beds, she said that the concept of Step Down Clinic will reduce the burden  or ease the pressure on hospital beds as COVID  patients who have recovered 80 percent after reaching critical stage, will be shifted directly to this clinic. 

Highlighting the features of the clinic, she said that in the first stage, the MCC has planned to set up a 50-bed facility. More such centres will be set up at 12 to 15 other locations in the coming days depending upon the success, she said and added that the clinics will be 24×7 care centres, with doctors and other care professionals in charge. The MCC Commissioner further said that the clinics will have enough  medical oxygen stocks for meeting any emergencies.

Jungle Lodges and Resorts (JLR) Chairman  M. Appanna, who is  In-charge of District-level Task Force on COVID Death Last Rites, Zoo Authority of Karnataka (ZAK) Chairman L.R. Mahadevaswamy, who is In-charge of District-level Task Force on COVID Ambulance Services, Dr. H.V. Santhrupth and Dr. Raghunath of Gopala Gowda Shanthaveri Memorial Hospital, Dr. Praveen of Seth Mohandas Tulsidas Hospital  and other officials were present.