The Zoutpansberg Private Hospital is living up to its motto "We dare to Care" with the recent addition of a two-bed high-care unit that will in future help them to deliver a higher level of care to patients.
The management of the hospital is extremely happy with the approval, which was recently granted by the BHF (Board of Funders), a statutory body responsible for the issuing of medical incenses. This follows a stringent inspection. "We decided to start phasing in the high-care room as part of our already approved licence for the new hospital's 10-bed ICU ward. For this, however, we needed approval," said the hospital's clinical director, Dr Anton Stroebel.
As indicated, the new 90-bed Zoutpansberg Private Hospital currently under construction adjacent to the existing hospital will feature a mixed 10-bed ICU/high-care ward. This will mean that ICU patients, such as critical accident cases and people needing life support, can be treated locally instead of transferring to Tzaneen, Polokwane or even Gauteng.
As for the high-care room, the hospital could start taking in patients from 1 April. "But there is still a process that needs to be followed," said Stroebel. He was referring among other things to the claims process for medical schemes, their own billing processes and even what stock needs to be kept in the high-care room. "We are therefore starting with low-risk high-care patients and working our way up to high-risk high-care patients," said Stroebel. The room had already housed its first patient this past week.
The hospital's matron, Majha de Lange, was especially exited about their newest addition of services, which also allow the hospital to do more complicated surgeries in theatre as they now have staff specifically trained to attend to after-surgery treatment. They are the only hospital in Louis Trichardt currently offering this service.
"The benefit is that we can now observe an unstable patient much better. This also means that we can keep patients longer, meaning that if a normal patient's condition worsens, we can now move them to the high-care room, rather than transferring them," said De Lange. Patients waiting for an advanced ambulance service can now also be held for longer.
Patients in die high-care room will receive round-the-clock observation with hourly check-ups. The room also features its own emergency medical trolley, fully equipped with everything needed to treat a high-care patient. This includes the room's own oxygen supply and even a defibrillator, in case of a heart attack. "Everything is just for this one room," said De Lange.