Emergency Medical Services Brace for Potential Resurgence of COVID-19 Cases
In an online interview with Almaty.tv, Birzhan Ospanov, the acting chief physician of the Emergency Medical Care Service (EMCS) in Almaty, discussed preparations for a potential new wave of COVID-19. Mayor Bakytzhan Sagintayev issued instructions for a tiered approach to organizing medical aid and emergency care system, which includes a novel Algorithm for managing care under COVID-19 conditions.
To tackle potential overloads, Almaty's clinics have been divided into tiers based on bed capacity and patient severity levels. The first tier consists of major clinics with at least 100 beds, serving severe and moderate COVID-19 cases; smaller hospitals with intensive care units form the second tier; stationary care centers treat patients with severe symptoms, while fourth-tier facilities provide intensive care unit support.
The EMCS algorithm — implementing a three-tier strategy — will direct medical staff on handling different COVID-19 scenarios effectively. All essential personnel have undergone appropriate training to handle the evolving situation. Currently, the EMCS operates 180 brigades, 12 stations, and more than 3,219 employees.
In the event of a new COVID-19 wave, the plan includes an increase in ambulance brigades to 260, with an additional 40 brigades' readiness, and an increase of 120 paramedics. The Information and Operational Dispatch Department will be expanded to 22, with a planned increase in paramedics handling the 103 calls to 60. A special call center (3000-505) is operational to consult citizens regarding COVID-19 infections.
According to Ospanov, during the disease's peak, the number of appeals increased from the usual average of 2-2.5 thousand per day to over 8,000, while in normal periods, the number of calls ranges from 2,000 to 4,000. Despite the considerable increase, the city's healthcare system has effectively handled the pandemic thus far.
As part of a global effort to fortify pandemic responses, the International organizations and local health bodies are collaborating on epidemic control models to bolster frontline responses to COVID-19 in Almaty. These models likely incorporate tiered approaches, appropriate Algorithms, and enhanced resources—elements evident in the city's pandemic management plans. Overall, preparations are ongoing to ensure that Almaty's health system can manage a potential new COVID-19 wave efficiently and effectively.
Science plays a crucial role in the development of the EMCS algorithm, which implements a three-tier strategy to manage COVID-19 scenarios effectively. This medical-conditions-focused algorithm, along with the division of clinics into health-and-wellness tiers, forms a key part of Almaty's overall plan to efficiently handle a potential new wave of COVID-19.
