FEMH “Voluntarily Administers” Oral Medicines for Confirmed Cases Aged 65 Years or Older

The number of confirmed cases hit 20,000 per day in New Taipei City but the results of PCR would not be available after 2~3 days, which often cause patients to miss the 5-day golden administration period. New Taipei City Far Eastern Memorial Hospital activated the “voluntary administration program” starting this Month (May 12). Confirmed cases aged 65 years or older will be administered for oral medication. Starting this Wednesday (May 18), FEMH launched the “Senior Green Tunnel” and such senior can be prescribed with medicine without PCR as long as their rapid tests come out positive. The doctors estimate that it would at least reduce 80% of probability of critical conditions.

Doctors will carefully understand the condition of the confirmed cases through videoconference and families can ask for all details while companying the patients.

FEMH vice president Yu-Sen Peng stated: “Since we use antiviral drugs, the indications applied to start in first 5 days from the initial date of symptom and not five days from PCR results. Sometimes it would still be one day late. Currently, the number of patients is massive and according to our prior clinical experience, it looks like seniors aged over 65 years are under the greatest threat.”

Far Eastern Memorial Hospital “Voluntary Administration” ProgramMay 12, Stage 1 Send SMS to patients aged 65 years or older with PCR positive the day before for intention to take medication Administration 3~4 days late May 16, Stage 2 Evaluate the demand for oral antiviral drug during the ER clinical process. If the PCR result is positive, send SMS notice for drug dispenser? Administration 1~2 days late. May 18, Stage 3 Elderly aged 65 years or older with positive rapid test. Use green tunnel to directly receive antiviral drugs. Effective and immediate administration. Critical condition rate dropped by 80%. Previously, FEMH activated the “voluntary administration program” on May 12 and issued SMS notice to CPR positive patients from previous day, and if he/she needs to take oral medication. However, the administration may be 3~4days late. Now the policy has evolved and the public aged over 65 years old coming to ER for PCR shall be marked and wait for the positive results. The SMS will be issued to notify the friends and relatives for pickup of medicine. The administration is 1~2 days late. FEMH even forecasts that seniors can receive medication with positive rapid test results starting from Wednesday (May 18). It is estimated that the probability of critical condition will be reduced by 80%.

FEMH vice president Yu-Sen Peng stated that “senior can carry their positive test results and visit our ER room for quarantine. After the doctor confirms the validity, the doctor will issue antiviral drugs at site. This will shorten the time by administration on the same day, which I believe will reduce the probability of critical condition by 80%.”

Just the public aged 65 years alone is the group accounting for 10%~15%. The “elderly green tunnel” is opened to concurrently lower the usage rate of PCR. The effective diversion not only controls the golden period of administration and will keep the frontline healthcare capacity.