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Boosting ICU capacity during the COVID-19 pandemic in the western Balkan region, The Republic of Srpska experience.
Kovacevic, Pedja; Djajic, Vlado; Momcicevic, Danica; Zlojutro, Biljana; Jandric, Milka; Kovacevic, Tijana; Latinovic, Milan; Seranic, Alen; Bokonjic, Dejan; Skrbic, Ranko; Dragic, Sasa.
  • Kovacevic P; Univeristy Clinical Centre of the Republic of Srpska, Banja Luka, The Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
  • Djajic V; Faculty of Medicine, University of Banja Luka, Banja Luka, The Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
  • Momcicevic D; Univeristy Clinical Centre of the Republic of Srpska, Banja Luka, The Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
  • Zlojutro B; Faculty of Medicine, University of Banja Luka, Banja Luka, The Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
  • Jandric M; Univeristy Clinical Centre of the Republic of Srpska, Banja Luka, The Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
  • Kovacevic T; Faculty of Medicine, University of Banja Luka, Banja Luka, The Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
  • Latinovic M; Univeristy Clinical Centre of the Republic of Srpska, Banja Luka, The Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
  • Seranic A; Univeristy Clinical Centre of the Republic of Srpska, Banja Luka, The Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
  • Bokonjic D; Univeristy Clinical Centre of the Republic of Srpska, Banja Luka, The Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
  • Skrbic R; Ministry of Health and Social Welfare of the Republic of Srpska, Banja Luka, The Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
  • Dragic S; Ministry of Health and Social Welfare of the Republic of Srpska, Banja Luka, The Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
J Public Health Res ; 12(1): 22799036231151762, 2023 Jan.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-2242313
ABSTRACT

Background:

Response to the outbreak of poliomyelitis in mid-1950 led to recognition and consequent development of critical care. Seventy years later the humankind was struck by COVID-19, another major challenge for critical care medicine which was especially big in Low-Resources-Settings where more than two thirds of the world population live, including the population of the Republic of Srpska (RS). Design and

methods:

The main aim was to show an overview of all interventions in order to boost hospitals' capacities to the level which is sufficient to manage high amount of critically ill COVID-19 patients in the RS. A before-after cohort study design was conducted to evaluate the effects of interventions for increase in preparedness and capacity of ICUs for admission and treatment of COVID-19 critically ill patients in nine hospitals in the RS.

Results:

Following interventions, the biggest and university affiliated hospital in the RS has increased ICU capacities total number of ICU beds increased by 38% and number of ventilators by 114%. Availability of machines for veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (vvECMO) increased by 100%. Number of doctors who were involved in treatment of critically ill patients increased by 47% and nurse/patient's ratio reached 12.5. Similarly, all other hospitals experienced boosting of ICU beds by 189% and ventilators by 373% while number of doctors increased by 108% and nurse/patient's ratio reached 14.

Conclusion:

All interventions implemented during COVID-19 pandemic outbreak in the RS resulted in increasing capacity for treatment of critically ill patients, but the education of health care professionals was identified as the most important conducted intervention.
Keywords

Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Type of study: Cohort study / Experimental Studies / Observational study / Prognostic study Language: English Journal: J Public Health Res Year: 2023 Document Type: Article

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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Type of study: Cohort study / Experimental Studies / Observational study / Prognostic study Language: English Journal: J Public Health Res Year: 2023 Document Type: Article