Efforts at our Emergency Department as a Designated Medical Institution for the Tokyo 2020 Games: How We Prepared for it during COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Introduction:

The Tokyo 2020 Games were held without spectators in the fifth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic after one-year postponement. From all over the world, approximately 11,000 Olympians and 4,400 Paralympians participated in the games. As one of the designated medical institutions, Tokyo Medical and Dental University Hospital provided emergency medical care for the personnel referred by medical staff at the venues or the Olympic Village clinics. On the other hand, it played a central role in treatment and care for COVID-19 patients in the Tokyo metropolitan area. The aim of this study was to review the emergency medical care system of the hospital as a designated hospital for the Tokyo 2020 Games and discuss the measures for future large-scale international events.

Method:

A retrospective analysis of persons involved in the Games who visited our emergency department by request was conducted. COVID-19 patients who were admitted were also analyzed. The study period was from July 13 to August 11 for the Olympics and from August 17 to September 11 for the Paralympics, respectively in 2021. The data was derived from electronic health records from the hospital.

Results:

The total number of ED visits was 38 during the period. One patient was hospitalized, and another patient was transferred. Twenty-one (55%) were athletes, seven (18%) were staff members, and ten (26%) were others. The reason for the visit was medical disease in 23 (61%) and surgical disease in 15 (39%). There was one COVID-19 positive patient. The number of COVID-19 inpatients was 124.

Conclusion:

Emergency medical care was provided for the persons involved in the Tokyo 2020 Games in cooperation with all the staff at the hospital. The COVID-19 pandemic ‘disaster’ may have had some impact on our hospital’s role as the designated medical institution.