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Attenkirchen doctor performs corona tests in practice parking lot - protective material is running out

2020-04-05T13:13:23.247Z


General practitioners are suffering from the corona crisis. In order to work efficiently, Christian Coutelle has transformed his practice parking lot into a test station. But the Attenkirchner doctor is troubled by the lack of protective material.


General practitioners are suffering from the corona crisis. In order to work efficiently, Christian Coutelle has transformed his practice parking lot into a test station. But the Attenkirchner doctor is troubled by the lack of protective material.

Attenkirchen - Not only hospitals currently face the corona virus with serious challenges, but general practitioners in the Freising district also face a completely new situation every day. These practices must function as an interface between on-site treatment and hospital referral - however, the self-protection of the helpers could soon no longer be guaranteed.

"How can that be?"

When the married couple Christian and Fanny Coutelle took over the Attenkirchner practice two years ago, this “worst case” would have been inconceivable for both: The procurement of protective suits, FFP masks and disinfectants is becoming a delicate problem. Fanny Coutelle, a qualified and experienced nurse, is shocked and asks: "How can that be?"

Disinfectants, whether for surfaces or skin, are absolutely in short supply right now. Their assessment that it is becoming scarce is also demonstrated by the skyrocketing prices for the stocks still to be bought. If ten liters of disinfectant in front of Corona regularly cost around 60 euros on average, 250 euros are currently required for this - often even significantly more. In Attenkirchen, one thing is certain: "The manufacturers now want to make a profit with it."

Help comes from dental practices

In the early stages of the crisis, all of this would have been perceived as relaxed, but now you would often worry about it. Christian Coutelle, specialist in internal medicine, is also convinced: Without the support of the dental practices Wiesheu (Attenkirchen) and Gantner (Au), for example, it would be very tight - both would always help out with material so that they could continue working at all.

The Coutelles also temporarily obtain FFP masks from a painting and varnishing company, so that their current stock still allows day-to-day medical work. The deliveries of the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians are far too low, and hope is constantly being replenished quickly. Apparently nobody expected the wave of infections, Fanny Coutelle said. Much of the protective material went to other countries or deliveries simply “got stuck” somewhere.

"Drive-In" test point in the practice parking lot

In order to be able to continue to carry out tests on SARS-Cov2 efficiently, Christian Coutelle decided relatively quickly to use a "drive-in" model in a small form in the practice car park. Tests in the practice rooms would also mean a high level of hygiene expenditure, for which again long-term disinfectants would be missing. So patients with the typical symptoms such as cough, shortness of breath or fever could now be tested quickly after consulting the telephone and making appointments. The practice performs on average around 20 smears a day, overall Christian Coutelle estimates the previous number of tests in Attenkirchen to be 300 to 400. Current status: 41 tested positive for Corona, three of them with a critical course. However, his patients not only come from the city, but also from Au or Nandlstadt, for example.

In the meantime, everyday business in practice has been shut down as much as possible. Whoever comes now is really sick. Christian Coutelle's fear is the increase in acute illnesses in family practices when hospitals reduce patient admissions. At the moment most of the concerns of people who are independent of corona are taken care of by telephone - the monthly tour of Fanny Coutelle to her patients for wound care or for changing the catheter is currently on hold.

"A lot will change"

In addition to the currently missing materials, there is also a lack of communication: "We do not get any information on how we should proceed," complains Fanny Coutelle. Christian Coutelle found out from the newspaper about the first Corona case in the district. This also resulted in a "tense situation", the family doctor's practices would not be involved.

The internist sees the cooperation with the health department and his patients in general as positive: the understanding is largely great. Home visits are declining, and his support for the Zolling retirement home is primarily geared towards emergencies.

Fanny Coutelle criticized Health Minister Jens Spahn: "He could have saved free food for nurses - recognition and help must be shown differently." It was also desirable that social professions were finally valued correctly. The couple are particularly afraid of the effects on the older generation, but also of the aftermath of the crisis on society. Both are certain: "A lot will change."

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Source: merkur

All news articles on 2020-04-05

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