Alabama man dies after being turned away from 43 hospitals as Covid packs ICUs(washingtonpost.com)
washingtonpost.com
Alabama man dies after being turned away from 43 hospitals as Covid packs ICUs
https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2021/09/12/alabama-ray-demonia-hospitals-icu/
132 comments
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/alabama-covid-icu-beds/ (Alabama)
Hospitals in Alabama have run out of intensive care unit beds as coronavirus cases spike across the state, forcing workers to make space to treat patients as they wait for open beds. There were 29 more patients than ICU beds available as of Wednesday, an Alabama Department of Public Health spokesperson confirmed to CBS News.
Hospital staffers have been forced to convert hallways, regular patient rooms and emergency spaces into areas where they can treat patients in need of ICU rooms, CBS affiliate WHNT reported. Officials said some patients could be transferred to different hospitals when beds become available.
"We've never been here before. We are truly now in uncharted territory in terms of our ICU bed capacity," Dr. Don Williamson, president of the Alabama Hospital Association, told CBS affiliate WTVY.
https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/health/2021/08/19/tenn... (Tennessee)
As the coronavirus continues to sweep Tennessee, all intensive care unit beds are currently full at most hospitals in every major metropolitan area in the state, according to the Tennessee Hospital Association.
“This means that if you or a loved one need treatment for any type of serious healthcare, problem like a severe injury, heart attack, or stroke, you may not be able to access the care you need, when you need it,” Long said in a statement on Thursday morning.
https://www.newsweek.com/georgia-icu-beds-now-95-percent-cap... (Georgia)
According to the health department, over 80 percent of emergency department beds are occupied throughout the state, while 86.6 percent of general inpatient beds are being used. Of the state's 14 regions, five are already over ICU capacity, with ICU beds in some parts of west Georgia reporting as high as 115.4 percent capacity, according to WSB-TV.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2021/08/12/mississippi... (Mississippi)
Mississippi braces for ‘failure’ of hospital system due to covid-19 surge and lack of ICU beds
A surge in coronavirus patients and a shortage of health-care workers and intensive care unit beds have pushed Mississippi’s hospital system to the brink of “failure,” state health officials warned Wednesday, saying drastic federal intervention was needed to help the state grapple with the thousands of new daily infections that have overwhelmed doctors and nurses.
https://www.businessinsider.com/mississippi-hospital-without... (Mississippi)
Memorial Hospital at Gulfport doesn't have enough ICU beds to house patients waiting for brain and heart surgeries, two staffers told Insider. The situation is so dire, the hospital has no choice but to cancel them. In the best case scenario, patients who need these surgeries might wait days to receive one, said Whitney Sutton, registered nurse and ICU manager at Memorial. Some will wait even longer, for periods of up to two weeks.
Hospitals in Alabama have run out of intensive care unit beds as coronavirus cases spike across the state, forcing workers to make space to treat patients as they wait for open beds. There were 29 more patients than ICU beds available as of Wednesday, an Alabama Department of Public Health spokesperson confirmed to CBS News.
Hospital staffers have been forced to convert hallways, regular patient rooms and emergency spaces into areas where they can treat patients in need of ICU rooms, CBS affiliate WHNT reported. Officials said some patients could be transferred to different hospitals when beds become available.
"We've never been here before. We are truly now in uncharted territory in terms of our ICU bed capacity," Dr. Don Williamson, president of the Alabama Hospital Association, told CBS affiliate WTVY.
https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/health/2021/08/19/tenn... (Tennessee)
As the coronavirus continues to sweep Tennessee, all intensive care unit beds are currently full at most hospitals in every major metropolitan area in the state, according to the Tennessee Hospital Association.
“This means that if you or a loved one need treatment for any type of serious healthcare, problem like a severe injury, heart attack, or stroke, you may not be able to access the care you need, when you need it,” Long said in a statement on Thursday morning.
https://www.newsweek.com/georgia-icu-beds-now-95-percent-cap... (Georgia)
According to the health department, over 80 percent of emergency department beds are occupied throughout the state, while 86.6 percent of general inpatient beds are being used. Of the state's 14 regions, five are already over ICU capacity, with ICU beds in some parts of west Georgia reporting as high as 115.4 percent capacity, according to WSB-TV.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2021/08/12/mississippi... (Mississippi)
Mississippi braces for ‘failure’ of hospital system due to covid-19 surge and lack of ICU beds
A surge in coronavirus patients and a shortage of health-care workers and intensive care unit beds have pushed Mississippi’s hospital system to the brink of “failure,” state health officials warned Wednesday, saying drastic federal intervention was needed to help the state grapple with the thousands of new daily infections that have overwhelmed doctors and nurses.
https://www.businessinsider.com/mississippi-hospital-without... (Mississippi)
Memorial Hospital at Gulfport doesn't have enough ICU beds to house patients waiting for brain and heart surgeries, two staffers told Insider. The situation is so dire, the hospital has no choice but to cancel them. In the best case scenario, patients who need these surgeries might wait days to receive one, said Whitney Sutton, registered nurse and ICU manager at Memorial. Some will wait even longer, for periods of up to two weeks.
Not that I am Trump supporter (I was most definitely not), but when hospital capacity was expected to be overrun back in Q2-2020, didn’t Trump deploy USNS Comfort and USNS Mercy to NYC and LA? I don’t hear anything about the Biden administration doing this…I mean if it’s that bad—why aren’t these resources being deployed?
The problem is that an ICU bed isn't just a bed, it needs to be staffed. Without the staff to go with it you can put up as many beds as you want and call them ICU beds, it won't make a shred of a difference.
My suspicion is that a “hospital ship” is probably staffed with more than just the sailors who make it go from point a to point b.
I could be wrong…
I could be wrong…
Yes, you are wrong, it's not like those boats are permanently staffed, the staff is drawn from elsewhere.
Besides that the red-tape around those ships effectively denied those with COVID from coming on board resulting in a grand total of 35 patients treated over the two ships combined.
Effectively they were a net negative, if the staff assigned to the ships would have been made available to the hospitals on shore they would have been far more effective.
Besides that the red-tape around those ships effectively denied those with COVID from coming on board resulting in a grand total of 35 patients treated over the two ships combined.
Effectively they were a net negative, if the staff assigned to the ships would have been made available to the hospitals on shore they would have been far more effective.
So use them to treat the non-Covid or deploy the staff to the land based hospitals. There are tactical relief actions this administration could take to help the overwhelmed hospitals but seems reluctant to do so. That bothers the hell out of me.
If you look at what actually happened when they were deployed it was pretty much a useless gesture. Negligible patients were treated.
Yes I realize that it wasn’t ultimately needed, it was a proactive measure. It’s better that it was there and unused than not there and needed. Wouldn’t you agree?
But here we have the exact opposite. We have reports about hospitals actually being stretched past their limits…and the ship is sitting in Virginia. Personally, I think that looks bad…and possibly politically punitive. And if I have that opinion as a liberal independent, I guarantee others probably see it that way too…especially if they lean Republican.
But here we have the exact opposite. We have reports about hospitals actually being stretched past their limits…and the ship is sitting in Virginia. Personally, I think that looks bad…and possibly politically punitive. And if I have that opinion as a liberal independent, I guarantee others probably see it that way too…especially if they lean Republican.
It sounds like the kind of number you would use hyperbolically to mean “a lot”.
Link to Georgia EMT hospital status...bad time to be in a car wreck.
https://georgiarcc.org/?sort=county&direction=asc
Oh my God you’re not kidding! Is this kind of information available for other hospital systems in America? A visualization of this data might be just the ingredient that is needed to deliver a sobering message.
https://protect-public.hhs.gov/pages/hospital-utilization
You can find county and state level dashboards trivially with an internet search, but the above link is an aggregator provided by HHS.
You can find county and state level dashboards trivially with an internet search, but the above link is an aggregator provided by HHS.
According to that 100% of ICU beds in Alabama are taken with ~48% being COVID related. Wow.
uberduper(11)
Reminder that Alabama has one of the lowest vaccination rates in the US.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/feb/18/us-vaccine-d...
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/feb/18/us-vaccine-d...
[deleted]
The bigger story is that 43 hospitals did not perform any sort of outpatient treatment for COVID.
There are low risk options for covid. Do something. Dont just sit there.
There are low risk options for covid. Do something. Dont just sit there.
You don't end up in an ICU bed if you have low risk options.
I think some likely did end up there after missing an early monoclonal antibody treatment protocol. Those are low-risk, high-effectiveness treatments for early phases and yet do not appear to be a universal standard of care for eligible patients.
(Low risk enough that they’re approved for some confirmed exposure cases prior to developing even a positive PCR test result.)
(Low risk enough that they’re approved for some confirmed exposure cases prior to developing even a positive PCR test result.)
No offense, but you're really showing your ignorance of healthcare and COVID severe enough to seek hospitalization.
At this point in treatment, a lower risk option would likely not be enough. That said, the hospitals didn't do anything at all. A low risk option would have been better than nothing.
[deleted]
I think this really talks to the politicization of (1) prophylactic preparation, (2) outpatient covid treatment and (3) vaccine only approaches, and (4) inpatient care where required, and the drugs used for the first and second respectively.
We've come to the point now that much of the prophylaxis, and outpatient treatment protocols for Covid are being actively suppressed on social media, and in the MSM, despite them being an adjunct, rather than a replacement for vaccination. This is similar to those that are contra-indicated for vaccines due to the pericarditis/mycarditis risk, known allergies, or peculiar side effects of certain vaccines. In my geography there is a local hospital system that is discounting prior severe anaphylaxis from covid injections, and requiring multiple injections and boosters anyways.
On the other hand, some places in flyover country have responded with the opposite tack, minimizing wanting only the politicized drugs, without having a focus on all the tools in the toolbox. Despite flyover country having huge obesity problems, I have yet to see strong mention of getting healthy and keeping BMI in check to reduce risk factors as a good response. It seems like business as usual there.
I believe strongly in science-based approaches towards our response to this crisis, involving both prophylactic/lifestyle changes, outpatient treatment, and vaccinations where indicated by risk level, unless contraindicated, with inpatient care reserved for appropriate need.
We've come to the point now that much of the prophylaxis, and outpatient treatment protocols for Covid are being actively suppressed on social media, and in the MSM, despite them being an adjunct, rather than a replacement for vaccination. This is similar to those that are contra-indicated for vaccines due to the pericarditis/mycarditis risk, known allergies, or peculiar side effects of certain vaccines. In my geography there is a local hospital system that is discounting prior severe anaphylaxis from covid injections, and requiring multiple injections and boosters anyways.
On the other hand, some places in flyover country have responded with the opposite tack, minimizing wanting only the politicized drugs, without having a focus on all the tools in the toolbox. Despite flyover country having huge obesity problems, I have yet to see strong mention of getting healthy and keeping BMI in check to reduce risk factors as a good response. It seems like business as usual there.
I believe strongly in science-based approaches towards our response to this crisis, involving both prophylactic/lifestyle changes, outpatient treatment, and vaccinations where indicated by risk level, unless contraindicated, with inpatient care reserved for appropriate need.
> We've come to the point now that much of the prophylaxis, and outpatient treatment protocols for Covid are being actively suppressed on social media, and in the MSM, despite them being an adjunct, rather than a replacement for vaccination.
Do you have some examples/evidence of this?
Do you have some examples/evidence of this?
Here are some examples of people that were banned/suspended, and one that was not.
[1] Dr. Zelenko of the Zelenko protocol fame
[2] Alex Berenson, formerly of the NYT, for raising the vaccine lack of protection issues, and for merely posting Pfizer test results [3]
[4] Dr. Martin Kulldorf, Epidemiologist, for stating natural immunity from previous infection superior to vaccine. Later proved correct by Israeli studies which proved natural immunity superior via "Interestingly, CD4+ T cell responses equally target several SARS-CoV-2 proteins, whereas the CD8+ T cell responses preferentially target the nucleoprotein, highlighting the potential importance of including the nucleoprotein in future vaccines" [5]
[6] Facebook suspended users for casting doubt on origins which later became more credible after the US government gave it more credence [7]
I think a big part of the problem is when BigTech tries to become the authority on information, and is often trailing the data from authoritative sources, or, incorrectly inserting itself into scientific debates in order to prop up a prevailing line, for which there may be weaker evidence.
[8] Jon Stewart was not banned or censored when he raised some of the same covid origin logic problems. I am not sure if this is because he is quite funny, or, it may have been viewed as a comedy bit. However, he did receive a large amount of flak from the left.
*************
[1] https://reclaimthenet.org/twitter-suspends-pro-hydroxychloro...
[2] https://alexberenson.substack.com/p/goodbye-twitter
[3] https://jonathanturley.org/2021/07/31/twitter-suspends-scien...
[4] https://www.aier.org/article/twitter-censors-famed-epidemiol...
[5] https://www.cell.com/cell-reports-medicine/fulltext/S2666-37...
[6] https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9612833/How-Faceboo...
[7] https://www.dni.gov/index.php/newsroom/press-releases/press-...
[8] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sSfejgwbDQ8
[1] Dr. Zelenko of the Zelenko protocol fame
[2] Alex Berenson, formerly of the NYT, for raising the vaccine lack of protection issues, and for merely posting Pfizer test results [3]
[4] Dr. Martin Kulldorf, Epidemiologist, for stating natural immunity from previous infection superior to vaccine. Later proved correct by Israeli studies which proved natural immunity superior via "Interestingly, CD4+ T cell responses equally target several SARS-CoV-2 proteins, whereas the CD8+ T cell responses preferentially target the nucleoprotein, highlighting the potential importance of including the nucleoprotein in future vaccines" [5]
[6] Facebook suspended users for casting doubt on origins which later became more credible after the US government gave it more credence [7]
I think a big part of the problem is when BigTech tries to become the authority on information, and is often trailing the data from authoritative sources, or, incorrectly inserting itself into scientific debates in order to prop up a prevailing line, for which there may be weaker evidence.
[8] Jon Stewart was not banned or censored when he raised some of the same covid origin logic problems. I am not sure if this is because he is quite funny, or, it may have been viewed as a comedy bit. However, he did receive a large amount of flak from the left.
*************
[1] https://reclaimthenet.org/twitter-suspends-pro-hydroxychloro...
[2] https://alexberenson.substack.com/p/goodbye-twitter
[3] https://jonathanturley.org/2021/07/31/twitter-suspends-scien...
[4] https://www.aier.org/article/twitter-censors-famed-epidemiol...
[5] https://www.cell.com/cell-reports-medicine/fulltext/S2666-37...
[6] https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9612833/How-Faceboo...
[7] https://www.dni.gov/index.php/newsroom/press-releases/press-...
[8] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sSfejgwbDQ8
The guy who died lived in the city where Trump held a rally with 50000 attendees on August 21.
If only there was something that could prevent this
"Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey (R) [..] allocated $12 million in federal funding this month to bring travel nurses to Alabama hospitals experiencing staffing shortages, such as the ones that DeMonia’s family encountered."
We are seeing nurse shortages in Canada as well. Mostly due to poor working conditions (long hours, no paid sick-leave in some jurisdictions). Some low staffing even attributed to evading forest fire smoke (anecdotal).
It's very hard to find the info in Canada. But, it would be interesting to see historical fluctuations in ICU capacity, how much spare capacity is maintained, and how much capacity is taken up by COVID patients.
A 2015 study found that critical-care capacity varied across Canada and should be addressed to avoid regional disruptions for spikes in need[1].
Healthcare systems were perhaps already stressed, and requiring adjustment and improvements, and COVID pushed them over the edge.
[1] https://ccforum.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13054-01...
We are seeing nurse shortages in Canada as well. Mostly due to poor working conditions (long hours, no paid sick-leave in some jurisdictions). Some low staffing even attributed to evading forest fire smoke (anecdotal).
It's very hard to find the info in Canada. But, it would be interesting to see historical fluctuations in ICU capacity, how much spare capacity is maintained, and how much capacity is taken up by COVID patients.
A 2015 study found that critical-care capacity varied across Canada and should be addressed to avoid regional disruptions for spikes in need[1].
Healthcare systems were perhaps already stressed, and requiring adjustment and improvements, and COVID pushed them over the edge.
[1] https://ccforum.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13054-01...
This article came out recently about several dozen nurses quitting a regional hospital because the hospital tried to mandate covid vaccination. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/sep/13/new-york-hos...
One of Biden's new measures he announced last week was a vaccination mandate for any hospital which takes Medicare/Medicaid, so these staffing problems should be expected to get much worse. They just care so dearly about ICU capacity!
I’m not sure why these comments are being downvoted - this is a serious issue in rural America in particular.
There have been multiple protests by healthcare workers near me opposed to the mandate, with dozens wearing scrubs and holding signs saying they will choose to be terminated rather than be vaccinated.
Regardless of how you view their beliefs, it’s readily apparent that the mandate will negatively impact staffing.
There have been multiple protests by healthcare workers near me opposed to the mandate, with dozens wearing scrubs and holding signs saying they will choose to be terminated rather than be vaccinated.
Regardless of how you view their beliefs, it’s readily apparent that the mandate will negatively impact staffing.
It’s even crazier we’re not considering natural immunity. A lot of these healthcare workers already put themselves at risk and caught covid. And now they’re being forced out.
I was able to find ICU capacity and occupations for Alabama[1].
Interesting to note, that last time that COVID patients were occupying the peak 700-800 bed range, was Jan 2021. Only, back then, there was ~150 more total capacity. Why has total capacity dropped since the start of the year?
No doubt, COVID hospitalizations are spiking, but total beds available are dipping at the same time. Not a good recipe!
[1] https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/data/hospitalization-7-day-trend...
Interesting to note, that last time that COVID patients were occupying the peak 700-800 bed range, was Jan 2021. Only, back then, there was ~150 more total capacity. Why has total capacity dropped since the start of the year?
No doubt, COVID hospitalizations are spiking, but total beds available are dipping at the same time. Not a good recipe!
[1] https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/data/hospitalization-7-day-trend...
150 ICU patients is a lot. In the whole country here in Finland, there's 22 COVID patients in ICU right now. We have roughly 50% more people than in Alabama.
If you want to understand why so many people support vaccine mandates, think about it this way: The unvaccinated are launching a DDOS attack on the medical system. From spreading online misinformation and propaganda, to protesting outside of hospitals and harassing patients, to being abusing and giving PTSD to healthcare workers, to filling up ICUs with their bodies, they want to make sure you can't access medical services if you need them.
Guess what, my family has required ICU treatment in the past. They will in their future. I'm supposed to put these motherfuckers' made-believe "rights" ahead of the welfare of my family? No, that's not going to happen. I'm going to demand politicians crack down on these people and will support whoever does that, it's that simple.
Guess what, my family has required ICU treatment in the past. They will in their future. I'm supposed to put these motherfuckers' made-believe "rights" ahead of the welfare of my family? No, that's not going to happen. I'm going to demand politicians crack down on these people and will support whoever does that, it's that simple.
Anyone else find it odd that he was vaccinated and 6 months later he died of covid?
If you actually find it odd that any vaccine isn't one hundred percent effective, that says a lot about your level of understanding of immunology.
The guys story was chosen because it is unique in that he went to so many hospitals. The other variables about him are somewhat random.
He didn’t go to that many hospitals. He went to one and was transferred to another. The family claimed the one hospital looked for a bed for him in 43 other hospitals and was unable to find one. However, the one hospital has not confirmed this. They only confirmed that he was a patient and they were not equipped to care for him and he was transferred elsewhere.
Not saying this is the case here…but I have found that occasionally there is a level embellishment or misunderstanding among the family of folks who lost a loved one regarding the care their loved one received out of frustration and grief over the loss.
So personally I tend to read these kind stories with a grain of salt. Covid or no Covid, sometimes people die, no mater the quality of care they received.
Not saying this is the case here…but I have found that occasionally there is a level embellishment or misunderstanding among the family of folks who lost a loved one regarding the care their loved one received out of frustration and grief over the loss.
So personally I tend to read these kind stories with a grain of salt. Covid or no Covid, sometimes people die, no mater the quality of care they received.
Nope - that’s basically the equivalent of saying “does anyone else find it odd that that person who got their driver’s license 6 months just died in a car accident?”
Not even that. It's saying, "Does anyone else find it odd that that person who got their covid vaccine died 6 months later of a heart attack that wasn't treated in time due to every hospital in the state being overwhelmed with covid patients?"
Looks like covid was going to kill that man either way, like the old saying, "If you are meant to drown you will do so even in a teaspoonful of water".
Looks like covid was going to kill that man either way, like the old saying, "If you are meant to drown you will do so even in a teaspoonful of water".
Doesn't the article say he died of a cardiac emergency? Not covid.
Millions of Americans are slowly realizing they don’t have health care because they can’t get access despite paying nosebleed prices.
Also clearly makes one question if system cost this much how come it haven't invested in capacity when the trend in demand have clearly been seen? Chinese added new one very fast, but somehow richest system is incapable?
It blows my mind that US tv shows and newscasters are making fun of Australia/New Zealand for the all of their harsh lockdowns whilst stuff like this is going on at the exact same time right their own country…
The US situation with hospital capacity has little to do with lockdown measures, and far more to do with the insufficient vaccination rate. People who chose not to get vaccinated are now preventing others from getting treatment.
Australia and New Zealand have very low vaccination rates, largely due to fairly spectacular government screwups, so have little choice but to lock down harshly.
US states which have low vaccination rates also had little choice but to lock down harshly, but they mostly seem to have gone for the generally less popular 'kill lots of people' option, instead.
US states which have low vaccination rates also had little choice but to lock down harshly, but they mostly seem to have gone for the generally less popular 'kill lots of people' option, instead.
Are you suggesting that states should go into lockdown because people were too stupid to get vaccinated?
I am all for taking measurements to keep those to young to get vaccinated safe, but I draw a line with unvaccinated adults who have had every opportunity to get vaccinated. Those with an actual medical condition are a separate case, but I see no reason to take any actions to protect those who deliberately chose not to be vaccinated.
For the record, I am also of the opinion that we should prioritize everyone else in triage over unvaccinated covid patients.
I am all for taking measurements to keep those to young to get vaccinated safe, but I draw a line with unvaccinated adults who have had every opportunity to get vaccinated. Those with an actual medical condition are a separate case, but I see no reason to take any actions to protect those who deliberately chose not to be vaccinated.
For the record, I am also of the opinion that we should prioritize everyone else in triage over unvaccinated covid patients.
I see a lot of comments making the assumption that reduced capacity is solely from extra patients seeking treatments.
There's another possibility, decreased hospital capacity due to vaccine requirements for the staff.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/more-than-150-houston-hosp...
There's another possibility, decreased hospital capacity due to vaccine requirements for the staff.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/more-than-150-houston-hosp...
Weird how there are almost no doctors being fired/quitting.
> It was so difficult, his family wrote this month, that the hospital in his hometown of Cullman, Ala., contacted 43 others in three states — and all were unable to give him the care he needed. DeMonia, who was eventually transferred to a Mississippi hospital about 200 miles away,
Note that the specific number (43) comes from an anecdote from the patient's family, not from official hospital spokespeople. Take it with a grain of salt.