Sauk County hospitals nearing capacity due to COVID-19 patients

As COVID -19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths continue to climb in Sauk County, local public health officials are warning that area hospitals are nearing capacity. Citing recent data, Cathy Warwick, Sauk County Public Health Deputy Director, says that at least one hospital in Sauk County is near capacity, with limited access to inpatient beds, critical care equipment, support resources and/or staffing, which impact the management of patient care. The situation in Sauk County is reflective of our larger region of several surrounding counties and 31 hospitals: about 1 in 3 hospitals in our region is near capacity, according to Warwick. 

“ICU beds are filling up in our region,” she reports. As of 10/22/20, Warwick says 81% of ICU beds in our region are full, with just 45 ICU beds remaining across 31 hospitals.

In addition to bed shortages, local hospitals are also dealing with staffing shortfalls. “1 out of 3 Sauk County hospitals report they will face a critical staffing shortage within the next week,” says Jessie Phalen, Sauk County Public Health Nurse Manager.  

Sauk County Public Health has worked with local healthcare systems to develop surge capacity plans, reports Jeff Jelinek, Incident Commander of Sauk County Public Health COVID-19 Response. “Our Sauk County hospitals are prepared and doing all they can to handle the influx of Covid cases,” says Jelinek, “but we need to slow the spread of this disease to keep them from being overwhelmed.” 

Hospitalizations for Covid-19 have surged in the first 21 days of October to 16 Sauk County residents, up from 10 in the entire month of September. A 7th Sauk County resident died from Covid-19 this week. The case count is rising quickly.  “We are now seeing the cumulative number of Covid-19 cases double every 34 days,” says Phalen. “At this rate, we will have about 1,500 new cases in Sauk County between now and Thanksgiving.” Phalen speaks to the consequences of this level of infection: “It will put an incredible strain on our region’s healthcare systems, many of which are already nearing capacity.”

Warwick urges residents to help keep our area hospitals from being overwhelmed. “We can stop the spread of disease,” Warwick says, “through social distancing, mask wearing, avoiding crowds, and staying at home as much as possible. If you have symptoms or have been exposed, get tested and quarantine yourself.”

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