Sunday, December 6, 2020

Some South Dakotans With COVID Flown Out of State Amidst Disconcerting ICU Lack

South Dakota’s three major hospitals– Avera McKennan, Sanford USD Medical Center, and Monument Health Rapid City Hospital– are reportedly having a hard time to find space for their critically ill COVID-19 clients.

Both Sanford USD Medical Center and Monument Health Rapid City Health center reported their extensive care units run out space. Avera McKennan reported just 6.7 percent of its ICU beds are available on December 2.

As an outcome, some South Dakotans are being flown out of state for treatment.

Robert J. Sliper, a COVID-19 client and South Dakota resident, was transferred to Colorado– over 340 miles far from his house– in November after local health centers claimed they didn’t have the space to care for him, according to a report by the Rapid City Journal

Before the pandemic, many of South Dakota’s medical centers were limited as some rural locals anticipated to take a trip a country mile to reach the nearby healthcare facility. As the state handles a recent rise in COVID-19 cases, South Dakota’s medical centers are lacking area and staff.

US-HEALTH-VIRUS-SOUTH DAKOTA-BUSINESS A sign reading
South Dakota hospitals are diverting COVID-19 clients as the state handles the rise in cases. A sign reading “COVID is getting old” is seen on April 23, 2020 in Rapid City, South Dakota, amidst the novel coronavirus pandemic.
Image by KEREM YUCEL/AFP via Getty Images

The strategy included healthcare facilities doubling their ICU capability by delaying some non-emergency surgeries, cross-training medical facility personnel to work with COVID-19 patients, and repurposing other areas into ICUs, Dr. David Basel, Avera’s vice president of clinical quality, informed the Journal

The majority of medical facilities affiliated with Avera Health are “at, near or above” capacity to deal with COVID-19 clients, stated Basel.

In the meantime, the medical facility will divert patients to other health centers.

South Dakota reported an average of 98 brand-new everyday cases this previous week.

Avera McKennan, Sanford USD Medical Center and Monolith Health Rapid City Health center didn’t react to Newsweek’s request for comment in time for publication.

Learn More

https://allcnaprograms.com/some-south-dakotans-with-covid-flown-out-of-state-amidst-disconcerting-icu-lack/

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