MICHIGAN – Last Tuesday, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported at least 503.8 for every 100,000 residents tested positive for the COVID-19 virus.
These worrying statistics gave Michigan the title as the worst COVID-19 hot spot in the country. The increasing number of cases also raised significant concerns among health care providers.
Michigan hospitals reported a 50% increase in hospitalizations of confirmed COVID-19 patients. Michigan Health and Hospital Association spokesman John Karasinski told reporters that “the current growth in COVID-19 hospitalizations is very concerning.”
As a representative of all 133 community hospitals in Michigan, Karasinski also expressed the dwindling workforce of these hospitals. Accompanied with other non-COVID patients, the number of hospitalized patients would increase dramatically in the coming weeks.
One of the negative effects of these recent COVID-19 surges is the significant waiting time in the hospitals’ waiting rooms. Doctors and nurses would need to postpone very important medical procedures while refusing any additional patient transfers.
Karasinski also warned the public that they will experience high wait times “if they have an issue that may not be an emergency.”
The Henry Ford Health System Executive Vice President Dr. Adnan Munkarah needed to admit 330 COVID-19 patients, a 60% increase from its regular capacity.
Hospitals would also need to figure out a way to balance the workloads of their doctors and nurses to prevent any negative effects on their end.
Munkarah hoped his hospital would experience the exact opposite, a reversing effect through the COVID-19 vaccine.
