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ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) –
Alaska activated emergency crisis protocols on Saturday that allow 20 medical facilities to ration care if needed, as the state has recorded the nation’s worst COVID-19 diagnosis rates in recent days, putting a strain on straining the state’s limited health care system.
The statement covers three facilities that had previously announced emergency protocols, including the state’s largest hospital, Providence Alaska Medical Center in Anchorage. The state’s statement also includes Anchorage’s other two hospitals and facilities in the nation’s largest but sparsely populated state.
“Today’s action recognizes that Alaska has an interconnected and interdependent health care system, which requires the activation of the state’s decision-making framework. This framework includes a progression from conventional, emergency and crisis standards, ”the state health department said in a statement announcing the activation.
“I want to stress that our healthcare facilities in Alaska remain open and able to care for patients. Alaskans in need of medical care should seek it soon, even in these difficult times, ”said Adam Crum, state health commissioner.
Factors that have led the state to activate the crisis in standards of care include scarce medical resources in some facilities, limited staff, and the difficulty of transferring patients due to limited availability of beds. Other factors include kidney replacement therapy and limited oxygen supplies.
According to data collected by the Johns Hopkins University Center for Systems Science and Engineering, one in 84 people in Alaska was diagnosed with COVID-19 from September 22 to 29. The second highest rate was one in 164 people in West Virginia. .
Fairbanks Memorial Hospital, which was covered by the state’s announcement, activated its own policy on Friday due to a shortage of beds, staff and monoclonal antibody treatments, as well as the inability to transfer patients.
“The move to crisis care standards is not something we take lightly,” Fairbanks chief medical officer Dr. Angelique Ramirez said in a statement. “This is in response to a very serious wave of COVID in our community. “
The move came the same day the state reported 1,044 new cases, including 108 in the Fairbanks area. The hospital said on Saturday that 35% of its patients were being treated for COVID-19.
As of March 2020, there have been a total of 110,850 COVID-19 cases in Alaska, which has a population of approximately 731,000. More than 24,000 new cases were reported in September as the delta variant spiked cases in Alaska, which has never had a statewide mask warrant.
The state’s health department said a total of 2,432 people have been hospitalized and 557 Alaskan residents have died.
Statewide, 60% of eligible residents are fully immunized. The borough of Fairbanks North Star is the third worst region for vaccination rates in Alaska, with just under 52% of eligible residents vaccinated.
Ramirez said the decision to upgrade to crisis standards was due to many factors, including the spread in the community caused by low vaccination rates and the high number of patients awaiting admission.
“It impacts all patient care, those with broken bones, trauma, heart attacks, strokes, COVID, anyone in need of medical attention,” Ramirez said. “The care that we are able to provide is very fluid and can change from day to day and even hour to hour depending on the availability of resources within our system and in the United States.”
Heidi Hedberg, director of the state’s Public Health Division, encouraged all residents to wear masks and get vaccinated.
“Every action you take helps prevent the spread of COVID-19 and protects you, your family, other Alaskans and our health care system. No one wants to use the crisis care standards guidelines, ”she said.
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