Mandya brass keep tabs on functioning of CCCs through Zoom

MANDYA: In a unique initiative aimed at ensuring quality care for patients in Covid Care Centres, the Mandya district administration is using videoconferencing app ‘Zoom’ to monitor functioning of CCCs.
Dr Dhananjay, district surveillance officer, said officials are directly interacting with patients, doctors and lower-rung staff in CCCs over the app and it is yielding good results. He said it not only helps the district administration learn firsthand about problems in centres, but also helps it find solutions quickly.
“We hit on the idea of using videoconferencing when we found out that some officials and doctors were not providing accurate reports about the functioning of CCS,” Dhananjay said.“There work was not up to the mark. Instead of relying on inputs from officials, we decided to see ground realities for ourselves, albeit through virtual mode.”
Dhananjay said that through videoconferences, the administration is now been able to get firsthand information about problems patients, doctors and non-medical staffs face in CCCs. “It even helps us monitor cleanliness at centres and keep tabs on the quality of food being served to patients in real time,” he said.
Videoconferences with patients and medical staff are being held at regular intervals, he said.
“In one such interaction, patients in Malavalli Town complained that substandard food was being served to them,” Dhananjay said. “We immediately changed the agency. In another instance, patients alleged poor hygiene as sweepers failed to clean toilets regularly. We immediately warned the chief of that centre and the problem was solved. There are hundreds of such examples to show how video conferencing with patients and medical staffs come in handy in improving care and facilities at CCCs.”
Mandya deputy commissioner Dr MV Venkatesh said videoconferencing also helps boost morale of lower-rung staff at CCCs as they can air problems such as shortage of staffs, working hours, shortage of medical equipment and even mental stress to the brass. “We do not only interact with patients and doctors. We directly talk with Group D employees and hear their grievances,” Venkatesh said.