The first batch of medical staff has been stationed in the Leishenshan Hospital in Wuhan, Central China’s Hubei Province, the epicenter of the novel coronavirus pneumonia (NPC), according to Wuhan NPC prevention and control headquarters, the Xinhua News Agency reported Saturday.

The preparation work continues in an orderly manner. The hospital comprises of 32 wards with a total of 1,500 beds to treat NCP patients, as reported.

It brings hope to the NPC patients who cannot be treated in regular hospitals because of the shortage of medical resources in the epicenter, commented a user on China’s Twitter-like Sina Weibo.

Located in Jiangxia district, Leishenshan Hospital will treat NCP patients diagnosed by outpatient departments of other hospitals, as it provides only inpatient services. 

The hospital is divided into two critical care units, three sub-critical care units, and 27 general care units. Except for the critical care units, the rest of the wards can accommodate two patients each. An operating room has also been equipped for NCP patients needing surgical treatment during hospitalization, as reported.

In addition, it has set up medical technology departments such as electrocardiography diagnose, ultrasonic imaging, radiology imaging, and medical laboratory departments, which can meet the requirements of auxiliary diagnosis for NCP patients.

High-tech medical equipment and necessary facilities have been made available that can facilitate remote diagnosis and transmission between computerized tomography and electrocardiograph.

Based on experience from Xiaotangshan Hospital that contributed greatly to defeating SARS in Beijing in 2003, according to state broadcaster China Central Television, the protection of medical staff and prevention of cross-infection is the top priority for the medics in this hospital. 

Leishenshan Hospital has put in place the system of “first consultation responsibility,” which means a physician who first diagnoses a patient will be responsible for his/her treatment. Moreover, the general duty system to improve the recovery rate and reduce the rate of fatality has also been adopted to ensure top-quality medical care, as reported.