Rega’s operations center did this before the Covid 19 pandemic. In the second wave, it ensures that intensive care beds in hospitals are not overcrowded. On Tuesday, the occupancy rate of intensive care units continued to rise, especially in western Switzerland. In Neuchâtel, 13 out of 14 intensive care posts were filled, in Valais 22 out of 25 and in Freiburg 20 out of 24.
Rega was ordered to coordinate intensive care places in case of bottlenecks from the Society for Intensive Medicine (SGI) and the Federal Coordinated Medical Service (KSD). He’s been doing it since mid-June.
At the SGI it was stated that coordination would take place at four levels. To better relocate the seriously ill, Switzerland was first divided into seven main regions. In a first phase, in which the hospitals function normally, transfers are organized between them.
In the second stage, with 80 percent occupation of the intensive care units and 20 percent of them by Covid-19 patients, the transfer of the affected person to another large region begins. But that only happens if hospitals want it. Upon request, Rega will take care of the mediation and take care of the transportation, although one of its helicopters will not necessarily be used.
In the third stage, intensive care units are 90 percent full and half of the patients have Covid-19. During this phase, the Rega Operations Center searches for vacant intensive care positions.
In the fourth stage with an even larger occupation, the capacity of the intensive care units will be expanded and Rega will take over the ad hoc allocation of seriously ill patients. As of Tuesday, there were no patient transfers coordinated by Rega, as Army spokesman Stefan Hofer said. The KSD belongs to the army. (jmh / SDA)
