During an outbreak, doctors' primary actions shift from individual care to managing a public health emergency. They establish and oversee cholera treatment units to isolate patients and prevent cross-infection. A critical step is implementing a triage system to quickly identify patients with severe dehydration for immediate IV rehydration, while those with mild cases are directed to oral rehydration posts.
To handle the surge in patients, doctors delegate tasks by training nurses and other health staff to administer most of the rehydration therapy, allowing the doctors to focus on the most critical cases and complications. This efficient use of resources is key to managing high patient volume.
Physicians balance direct care with community guidance by acting as medical leaders. While they personally manage complex cases, they also design the treatment protocols for the entire response and serve as trusted voices. They provide crucial guidance to the public on sanitation and prevention, understanding that curbing the outbreak's spread is as important as treating those already infected.