Covid certainly is the leading cause of the ICU surge…but it definitely isn’t the single cause. Many of the southern states currently have a significantly less number overall ICU beds than they have had in the last year. Alabama alone has about 80 less ICU beds…Kentucky close to 300! Staffing shortages, and not just clinical staff shortages, are playing a role in this as well. It’s the perfect combination for what we are seeing.
Elective in name only. An active MI, or medically manageable thoracic aneurysm, could be admitted to an ICU for an “elective” surgery once stabilized a week or so later. I’m sure their family would disagree with the “elective” nomenclature.
We should let the unvaccinated die.
Maybe just strongly encourage them to get vaccinated by mandating vaccination at many workplaces and also require it for large group leisure activities. Nobody has to die unnecessarily. Almost all of the covid deaths since May were completely avoidable.
You're looking at the wrong comparison, as if COVID is the only thing an ICU is used for, so 50% COVID utilization doesn't' sound that bad.
Amazing how minds work differently. I never thought that when I read the title.
In many cases it's because they need the staff from other areas to help with the ICU, not that they are physically out of non-ICU beds.
I have to take issue with the bolded. Look, I get your frustration, and completely sympathize. Personally though, that’s a line I don’t think any of us should cross. Yes, no doubt the vast majority of Covid patients in intensive care chose not to be vaccinated. They also chose the consequences of what may happen if they contracted Covid. I seriously doubt any of them checked the box that had the choice of being hospitalized.
That's correct . My friend is an RN in a burn unit. Her new role is helping out in the ICU. Part of her role is using an iPad so the dying unvaccinated patient in the covid ward can say good bye to their family since the family cannot access the area.
Except that the vast majority of COVID cases in hospitals are among the unvaccinated. If they had gotten the vaccine they overwhelmingly would not have ended up hospitalized, thus dramatically lessening the strain on ICU bed availability.
Figuratively, not literally. Of course they didn’t sign up with a physical agreement to be hospitalized. Most were probably playing betting games that “they’d be just fine since they’re young and healthy.” It was preventable, that’s all I mean. Most were led astray by the talking heads, but that doesn’t negate the fact that their decision is willfully attributing to the diminished availability of care to their community at large. Including the ability to provide care to another immediate surge, say a plane accident at/near the airport.
Overflow can be from shortage of staff or beds. Either way, the result is the same.
I didn’t argue against any of those points, as they weren’t the topic of my discussion.
And once again, was there a shortage of staff two years ago? No. Some around here will do anything to minimize the fact that a lack of vaccinations is affecting EVERYTHING. But it fits their narrative. A dastardly work of fiction.
Then what is your point? What’s your solution? I hate when people ask ultimatums here but I’m genuinely curious.
