“Protect, test, isolate. The triptych hammered by the executive to stem the coronavirus epidemic is now on track in France. With the entry into the track of the "health brigades", since May 13, a new stage in the deconfinement strategy has been taken.
In France, some 6,500 employees, all employees of health insurance, were therefore requisitioned for this unique mission: to identify and isolate sick people as well as those who have been in contact with them. And try to avoid the dreaded "second wave".
In the Oise, the first focus of the epidemic in France, 97 officers from the Primary Health Insurance Fund (CPAM) form this brigade, even if only a handful of managers are present in the "headquarters" in Beauvais.
The rest of the team (doctors, nurses, administrative staff) remained teleworked. With the same mission: to call “within 24 hours” each of the contact persons, in order to invite them to remain confined to their home. And encourage them to carry out a test as soon as possible.
"It's a challenge, we're boosted by adrenaline," says Delphine Boileau, who pilots the telephone platform. We know that this is a terribly important mission. We are a bit like the white coats of health insurance. "
16 zero patients and 25 contact cases identified as of Wednesday
On Wednesday, when the device was launched, 16 zero patients were identified with 25 contact cases called; Thursday, they were 11 more zero patients for 32 relatives contacted.
"This is only the beginning, but for the moment we can quite easily reach people," appreciates an employee. Some have barely left their doctor's office when they are already online. We try to take the time on the phone, on average we spend 20 to 30 minutes with each insured. People are aware and play the game. ”
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“It is all about civic-mindedness and people's volunteering abounds Marc Azam, departmental director of the CPAM. There is no question of compelling. "
A capacity of 800 tests per day in the department
This ant work, in direct connection with general practitioners, has only just begun. Thus, on Friday morning, the census work made it possible to trace up to 12 people who had recently been in contact with a single patient. "The most important figure we have dealt with so far," says the manager of the platform.
"We expect an increase in load, but how much, we do not know," concedes the director. During the confinement period, some 120 cases of Covid-19 were identified each week by the ARS (Regional Health Agency) in the department. A figure that should now increase significantly, while the Oise has a capacity of 800 tests per day.
"The more the departments are affected, the more the primary funds are mobilized," confirms Marc Azam. And the Oise is at the top of the basket. For us, this is a major event. In a few days, part of our 600 employees were asked to change jobs. "
"It will not put an end to the epidemic"
Submerged fifteen days before the rest of France by the "wave" of the coronavirus, the Picardy department had tested this device before everyone else. In the aftermath of the first cases of Covid-19 identified, intervention cells in the regions (Cire), placed under the authority of the ARS, were already trying to go up the chain of contamination, from the end of February.
"This device is like an extension of this cell," confirms Dr. Florent Verfaillie, chief medical officer of the local Echelon medical service (ELSM) in Oise. We capitalized on this feedback. These brigades will be the keystone of the deconfinement strategy. It will not put an end to the epidemic, but it can make it possible to control it. "