Under the recent surge of COVID-19 cases, hospital systems in several Midwest and Western states are overtaxed, and scrambling for contingency measures. In Utah, for example, rationing of care may go into effect in the next two weeks. Other locations, from El Paso, Texas, to Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, are at or beyond capacity. Where available, field hospitals, built months ago by the Army Corps of Engineers, have been activated. More ACE help is now called for, along with a resumption of embedding temporary military staff into existing hospitals, to relieve the terrible strain on local workers. Some mayors and governors have called on the Health and Human Services Department for this kind of help; and the National Guard is active. Indicative examples:
UTAH. Gov. Gary Herbert was briefed Oct. 22 by Greg Bell, head of the Utah Hospital Association, that rationing of hospital treatment will start in a week or two, unless intervention is made. As summarized by the Salt Lake Tribune yesterday, “Under the criteria, which would require Herbert’s approval, patients who are getting worse despite receiving intensive care would be moved out first. In the event that two patients’ conditions are equal, the young get priority over the old, since older patients are more likely to die.” (“Utah’s Hospitals Prepare to Ration Care as a Record Number of Coronavirus Patients Flood Their ICUs,” Oct. 25). The University of Utah Health System opened an overflow ICU unit two weeks ago; it has been staffed only by overtime from the existing workforce, and that is breaking down. Surge facilities are to be built by the National Guard at the Mountain America Expo Center, but medical personnel are lacking to staff it.
