Oxygen audit: Chandigarh manages to reduce Oxygen consumption by 20-25%

Tribune News Service

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Chandigarh, May 31

The UT Administration has managed to reduce the consumption of medical oxygen by 20-25 per cent in private and government hospitals and mini-Covid care centre after conducting an audit.

Yashpal Garg, nodal officer for oxygen supplies in UT, constituted a committee comprising Jagjit Singh, PCS, Dr Manjit Singh, GMSH-16, and Dr Manpreet Singh, GMCH-32, to audit, educate and sensitise private hospitals, government hospitals and mini-Covid care centres in the city for optimum utilisation of medical oxygen.

Garg said the committee visited all private and government hospitals and mini-Covid care centres in the past 20 days. The committee interacted with the staff of healthcare institutions, gave live demonstrations, replied to their queries and inspected all oxygen installations.

A report submitted to the UT Administration by the committee revealed that the consumption of oxygen was decreased following a sensitisation programme carried out by its members.

During the programme, staff members were trained in using various masks, nebulisers, oxygen concentrators and oxygen cylinders. It was also reemphasised to check all leakages in pipelines circuits and cylinders so that the wastage of oxygen and fire hazards can be minimised.

Dr Manpreet Singh explained the importance of change of water in oxygen flow meter bottles to all as it may contribute to the increased problems of fungal infections.

After the training, it was observed that overall 30-40 per cent oxygen consumption was decreased in most of the private hospitals. It was also observed that 13-15 per cent of bed occupancy was also decreased during this period due to downtrend of Covid-19 in the city.

After a sensitisation programme at the GMSH-16, it was observed that the daily average consumption of liquid medical oxygen was decreased by 31 per cent and oxygen consumption per patient decreased by 23 per cent approximately.

Garg said: “With these visits at different hospitals, it was observed that more than 20-25 per cent oxygen consumption was decreased following the sensitisation programme and it contributed tremendously to judicious utilisation of oxygen”.

Efforts yield results

• After the training, it was observed that overall 30-40 per cent oxygen consumption was decreased in most of the private hospitals.
• It was also observed that 13-15 per cent of bed occupancy was also decreased during this period due to declining Covid cases in the city.
• After a sensitisation programme at the GMSH-16, it was observed that the daily average consumption of liquid medical oxygen decreased by 31 per cent and oxygen consumption per patient decreased by 23 per cent approximately.