This is an example of why I believe all hospitals must be required to set aside a percentage of beds for non Covid patients. Thankfully the hospitals in Raleigh/Durham currently have space available. Right now it appears that the 3 major hospitals in Raleigh/Durham (Duke, UNC, and WakeMed) all have beds available and some ICU units available. He had a surgery to remove a lymph node today. They are going to run a ton of tests and once they get results formulate a plan. There are doctors from multiple departments working on this. There are hospitals in other parts of NC that have higher Covid patient rates than the Raleigh/Durham area has.
Both of the big hospitals here do have beds for non SC2 who are going to die if they don't receive immediate care (I don't know the number/percent). Stage 2B breast cancer and ICD replacement don't meet the criteria to get one of those beds...yet. What if she dies of a heart attack in November? What if her breast cancer progresses and therefore affects her life even more or kills her? One of the system managers said that ventilators are part of the problem (not enough? not enough staff to monitor? not enough rooms? I didn't read the interview yet).
*I haven't read this anywhere for confirmation, but a guy at work said that the largest hospital here has set aside one floor of the hospital for emergency non-SC2 care. That probably still doesn't include the two ladies I've typed about above.
*There is an oncology practice here that is still just doing that because 1) they aren't emergency care doctors, 2) there is huge need for oncological care. They have about 8X patients than they did in 2019.
*The reproductive clinic of the largest hospital is business as usual though (is that critical care?!).
*A large medical imaging center is struggling because doctors aren't seeing, therefore sending, patients.
EDIT: I'm being a little more cautious on my dirt rides because if I need emergency care, I'm not sure what my fate will be.
EDIT: BSU announced yesterday that proof of vaccination or a recent negative test are required for entrance into the game tonight...the clinics on and near campus are a little busy this morning.
EDIT 3: Part of the problem isn't beds or space, but a lack of
qualified people to provide care.
EDIT 4 (how many edits can I do?!): I just want to be clear that I'm not 'blaming' the healthcare providers, I'm blaming anti-vax people who ranted about their liberty because they are the ones F#@! other peoples' liberty.