Where Delta is Currently Hitting Hardest - Credit CDC
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While the internet, politicians, and pundits argue over the ultimate impact of the Omicron variant, Delta continues to pummel much the Northern United States, along with parts of the American Southwest.
We explored the impact of this declaration in The Realities Of Crisis Standards Of Care a few months ago, but in short it can mean hospitals are allowed - under certain dire circumstances - to ration care (including access to ventilators, ICU beds, etc.), invoke DNR (Do Not Resuscitate) protocols (see Standards Of Care During A Pandemic: CPR & Cardiac Arrest), and even turn some patients away.Many hospitals are struggling with staffing problems, overwhelmed ERs, increased admissions, and many have been forced to implement `Crisis Standards of Care'.
Some recent blogs include:
More U.S. Hospitals Inch Towards Invoking Crisis Standards of Care
Denver Metro & Colorado: Public Health Advisory On COVID-19 Surge & Hospitalizations
Montana Governor Sends National Guard To Aid COVID-Stressed Hospitals
Alaska Activates Crisis Standards of Care Across 20 Health Districts
Between Delta's current impact, Omicron's impending threat, and seasonal influenza beginning to rise, the Governor of Ohio has decided to mobilize their National Guard to prop up their healthcare delivery system.
We can expect to see more states follow suit in the weeks to come.
COVID-19 Update: Ohio National Guard Mobilized, Hospital Staff Needed
December 17, 2021
(COLUMBUS, Ohio)—Ohio Governor Mike DeWine today provided the following updates on Ohio’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic:
OHIO NATIONAL GUARD MOBILIZED
Governor DeWine mobilized 1,050 members of the Ohio National Guard to help relieve the hospital staffing strain caused by the rising number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Of the total mobilized guard members, approximately 150 are highly-trained medical professionals and will deploy to help meet critical needs at hospitals and testing locations. The remaining 900 guard members will help with patient transport, housekeeping, and food services. Guard members will be brought on duty beginning on Monday.
STAFFING AGREEMENT
The Ohio Department of Health is working with an Ohio health care staffing company to help meet hospital staffing needs. This agreement will allow for Ohio hospitals to bring in qualified nurses and other providers from out-of-state to fill needed positions to help ease some of the current added pressure on hospitals and staff.
HOSPITALIZATION DATA
More than 4,700 people are currently hospitalized in Ohio fighting COVID-19, that equates to one in every five hospital patients. This is the highest number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 this year, and the number of hospitalized patients is rapidly approaching an all-time high.
Due to the increase in COVID-19 hospital admissions many hospitals have been forced to postpone elective surgeries, transfer patients to other hospitals, impose visitation standards, and/or implement what they call “crisis standards of care,” in which they have no choice but to take extraordinary steps to care for patients in ways that aren’t typical, such as providing intensive care in emergency rooms or in post-surgical units.
In Northern Ohio (Ohio Hospital Zone 1) most hospitals have suspended elective surgeries. In Central and Southeast Ohio (Ohio Hospital Zone 2), the same thing is beginning to happen. In Southeast Ohio, (Ohio Hospital Zone 3), hospital leaders are preparing to take similar action.
The best way to relieve the strain on our health care providers is to stay up-to-date on COVID-19 vaccinations to prevent serious illness and hospitalizations. To find a vaccination provider near you, visit http://gettheshot.coronavirus.ohio.gov.
CASE DATA/VACCINE INFORMATION
In-depth COVID-19 data for Ohio: coronavirus.ohio.gov.
Ohio's central scheduling system: gettheshot.coronavirus.ohio.gov
All vaccine providers: vaccine.coronavirus.ohio.gov
More vaccine information: coronavirus.ohio.gov/vaccine
Video of today's full update, including versions with foreign language translation, can be viewed on the Ohio Channel's YouTube page.
For more information on Ohio's response to COVID-19, visit coronavirus.ohio.gov or call 1-833-4-ASK-ODH.
