Blessing Hospital lacks intensive care beds, some surgeries postponed



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QUINCY (WGEM) – The Adams County Health Department COVID-19 dashboard reported that the availability of intensive care beds was 0% in Adams County on Friday.

Blessing Hospital has confirmed that the availability of ICU beds is zero.

Dr Mary Frances Barthel, of Blessing Health System, said one thing to keep in mind is that bed availability is very dynamic and numbers are constantly changing as people move to different units and new patients. are received. However, on Friday afternoon, Dr. Barthel said there were no intensive care beds available.

Dr Barthel said Blessing also informed surrounding hospitals that they could not take transfers.

She added that people in need of intensive care who arrive at the hospital would have to wait in the emergency room for a while while the hospital can make room and sort patients.

Dr Barthel said if they found themselves in a situation where they could not make room while sorting patients, the incoming patient would have to be transferred to another hospital.

Dr Barthel added that there was capacity in the surrounding hospitals on Friday, but said that was not the case a few days before, once again saying that the capacities of hospitals are very dynamic and are changing rapidly.

Dr Barthel said the hospital was running out of intensive care beds before COVID-19, especially during flu season. She said Blessing saw a few cases of the flu this fall, but it hadn’t significantly affected them yet.

Dr Barthel added that Blessing is postponing some elective surgeries, especially if there is a chance the patient will need an intensive care bed after the surgery.

Blessing reported in October that she had added 13 additional intensive care beds and 20 additional medical / booster beds. However, when asked about a further expansion on Friday, Dr Barthel said that while the hospital has enough space to accommodate more beds, it does not have the staff available to support more beds.

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