Teamwork in virus battle provides vital experience

Professionals from different medical disciplines are working together to fight the viral outbreak.

Hu Weiguo, vice-president of Ruijin Hospital in Shanghai, who heads a 136-strong team sent from the city to Wuhan, the contagion's former epicenter in Hubei province, said the joint efforts have provided precious experience.

Doctors and nurses from disciplines other than respiratory and infectious medicines have been called on, including those focusing on cardiology, gastroenterology, geriatrics, anesthesiology and psychology.

"Half of the patients in the wards where I work are age 65 or older, and more than two-thirds of those admitted have various kinds of complications," Hu said.

"A multidisciplinary team can work with joint wisdom and provide solutions to deal with such patients' cases and reduce the death rate."

Commonly experienced complications include kidney failure, diabetes, Parkinson's disease, and physical and mental disabilities. Some patients are also alcoholics, Hu said.

For example, the blood sugar level of one patient was nearly six times that of a healthy person, while in another, the serum creatinine level－the most common clinical marker of kidney function－was 17 times higher than the standard level, he said.

"I have doctors with different specialties on the team. For example, there are three specializing in kidney diseases, and they help patients with such problems remain in a stable condition," Hu said.

Regular safety training is being given to doctors and nurses. Before they are allowed to enter a hospital, they must practice many times in their rooms how to put on and take off protective clothing.

Hu said one team member is assigned to double-check if the medical workers comply with the requirements for protective suits and other equipment when they enter or leave quarantine wards.

"This safety supervisor's job can be compared with that of the person who checks a client's hook on the rope before he or she starts bungee jumping," he said.

It is also vital that doctors and nurses who feel tired or uncomfortable are encouraged to rest, and not to continue working.

"Anyone who feels uncomfortable during their shift can report to us, and we'll find a substitute immediately. What we want least is any risk to the physical and mental health of our medical workers," Hu said.

He added that nurses wearing protective suits in quarantine wards must only work for four hours before taking a break.