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'Extraordinary times': Medical City shows packed floors as hospital appeals for 'time' to combat COVID-19

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<div><script src="https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js#xfbml=1&amp;version=v2.5" async="" type="text/javascript"></script></div><div><script src="https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js#xfbml=1&amp;version=v2.5" async="" type="text/javascript"></script></div><div class="fb-post" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/152207991456089/videos/2596767140576279/" data-width="auto"> </div><p>MANILA - The Medical City (TMC) in Ortigas has offered a rare glimpse of its coronavirus disease (COVID-19) war zone, where health workers in full protective gears were seen shuffling from patient to patient.</p><p>&quot;These are extraordinary times,&quot; the hospital said in a video posted on its Facebook page, as it appealed to the public to find hospitals elsewhere if they needed medical help, in a bid to buy time and provide proper care for COVID-19 patients.</p><p>&quot;Last week, one floor was dedicated to COVID-19. Today it has become two floors and two whole departments accommodating moderate to high-risk patients who can quickly deteriorate into severe ICU patients,&quot; the hospital said in the April 6 post.</p><p>The hospital acknowledged that while the country is under COVID-19 crisis, people still get into accidents, have heart attacks, among other health conditions.</p><p>&quot;We are expanding and expanding our capacities, but until when? Right now, this is our limit at the ER,&quot; said Dr. Sally Mae Abellanes, emergency room doctor.</p><p><a href="https://www.facebook.com/TheMedicalCity/photos/a.867739256569622/3244253478918176/?type=3&amp;theater" target="_blank">As of April 7</a>, TMC has at least 34 COVID-19 positive cases admitted to the hospital, 6 in the intensive care unit. It also screened over a thousand cases of persons under monitoring or persons under investigation. The hospital has so far recorded 22 COVID-related deaths.</p><p>The hospital noted that COVID-19 patients are &quot;resource-intensive; they require more attention, more equipment, and more hands.&quot;</p><p>Abellanes said if the situation worsens, they may be forced to choose to prioritize the patient who has the biggest chance of survival.</p><p>“In a way, we’re kind of playing god, telling you you&#x27;re not gonna make it. Doctors are not meant to be playing God,&quot; she said.</p><p>Medical City said the hospital will be back on its feet faster if frontliners can focus on their current patients.</p><p>&quot;Give us that time to at least divert patients first while we recoup, then we can serve you better,&quot; it said.</p><p>&quot;Help us ease the pressure on our frontliners and the capacity of our hospitals until more patients can be tested and treated until they recover,&quot; TMC added.</p>

<p>The Medical City in Ortigas has offered a rare glimpse of its coronavirus disease (COVID-19) war zone, where health workers in full protective gears were seen shuffling from patient to patient.</p>

The Medical City in Ortigas has offered a rare glimpse of its coronavirus disease (COVID-19) war zone, where health workers in full protective gears were seen shuffling from patient to patient.