New software developed to help identify patients requiring ventilators

A software can now identify patients who need ventilator support in the ICU. Referring the patient in time will help in making necessary arrangements before an emergency. There is an algorithm in the software called Covid Severity Score (CSS) software which measures the corona patients by a set of parameters. It scores multiple times for each patient using a pre-defined dynamic algorithm and returns a Covid Severity Score (CSS) to map it to a graphical trend.

This software technology is being used in three community COVID care centers in Kolkata and the suburbs, including a 100-bed government COVID care center in Barrackpore, Kolkata.

It has been a challenge for hospitals to meet the sudden ICU and other emergency requirements during the Corona pandemic. Timely information about such situations will help in managing the health crisis better.

Foundation for Innovation in Health, Kolkata, supported by Science for Equity, Empowerment and Development (SEED) of the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India and in collaboration with IIT Guwahati, Dr. Kevin Dhaliwal, University of Edinburgh and Dr. Sayantan Bandyopadhyay, formerly Developed in collaboration with WHO (South Asia Regional Office) an algorithm that measures symptoms, signs, vital parameters, test reports and infection of a COVID-infected patient and scores each using a pre-defined dynamic algorithm. Thus gives a Covid Severity Score (CSS).
Frontline health workers trained in the National Skill Qualification Framework (NSQF) model and certified by the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), Government of India, are trained to record all these parameters in a tablet computer, into which the software is loaded.

CSS is regularly monitored multiple times by specialist doctors sitting remotely, thereby reducing the time of doctor consultations for each patient and the need for doctors to visit the patient. This can help in early identification of patients needing ventilator support in an ICU and referral, reducing hospital referrals to those who do not require critical care support, thus providing more hospital beds Will get It will also help in providing support in medical monitoring to patients who cannot afford treatment or cannot isolate at home due to poor home conditions.

This facility can be of great help to Covid Care Centers having only beds and oxygen support. However, there is no facility for invasive ventilation.