'No beds anywhere': Minnesota hospitals strained to limit by COVID-19

[BainsBane]

Open ICU beds were down to single digits in some parts of Minnesota last week, when Gov. Tim Walz ordered a four-week shutdown of bars and other venues.

From Mercy Hospital in Coon Rapids to Rice Memorial Hospital in Willmar to Regions, ICU beds are filling as quickly as they are opening up. Statewide, 79% of available ICU beds are filled, and 26% filled with COVID-19 patients.

The state’s capacity of open ICU beds has declined about one percentage point per day the past two weeks — raising the probability that some of the 408 ICU surge beds might need to be activated in unused hospital and nursing home wings.

“There’s no beds anywhere,” said Dr. Matthew Klee, whose ICU at Mercy is full and under pressure to take patients throughout Minnesota and western Wisconsin. “It’s become like a game of chess over the entire state.”

At one point this month, 30 people were in the Regions ER waiting for inpatient admission due to lack of beds.

https://www.startribune.com/no-beds-anywhere-minnesota-hospitals-strained-to-limit-by-covid-19/573157441/

Stay home and don't get sick. They can't help everyone now.

[beachbumbob]

1. the beds are not the only issue, you have to have staff and there are NO idle doctors or nurses

anywhere.

[BainsBane]

3. It's terrible for the staff

I feel so badly for them. Earlier in the year, I sent about 150 handmade cards to COVID providers. I should do more now.

[LakeVermilion]

2. My friend said that his 85 year old mother

would not be admitted. She has another issue, but he might have COVID, so he can't take care of her.

The press really doesn't do a good job of explaining the problems people are dealing with.

[BainsBane]

4. that's awful.

My heart goes out to your friend.

[LakeVermilion]

5. Thanks

His life is in turmoil. With our lockdown, the only thing I can do is communicate with him.