A 'New Normal' for Hospitals on the Front Lines Fighting Coronavirus: Inside the Kirkland hosp

[Dennis Donovan]

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/11/us/coronavirus-kirkland-hospital-seattle.html

A look inside the suburban hospital in Kirkland, Wash., where 15 coronavirus patients have died.

By Mike Baker

March 11, 2020
Updated 4:40 p.m. ET

KIRKLAND, Wash. — At 6:04 p.m. on Tuesday night, the staff at EvergreenHealth in Washington State got another warning: Two more patients with respiratory troubles were on their way to an emergency ward that had already been flooded with coronavirus patients.

Doctors, nurses, technicians and respiratory therapists rushed to get each other prepared, handing out blue gloves, tying on each other’s yellow gowns and helping fit white helmets inflated by clean air — the visors opaque from the repeated cleanings with bleach they had undergone over the past brutal week.

Workers slid open the doors to Room 4 and Room 18 on a special sealed wing of the emergency department ready to receive the 43rd and 44th suspected or confirmed coronavirus patient under the hospital’s care that night.

“We focus on the swarm method,” said Amy Updike, the emergency department clinical manager. “Some of them are coming in pretty sick and need interventions right away, and you see how much time it takes to prepare for these patients.”

</snip>

[True Blue American]

1. Nursing Homes

In Ohio in lock down. No visitors.

[Dennis Donovan]

2. I checked with a friend whose mother is a nursing home admin in the Catskills

...and it hasn't hit there as of yesterday. But, it's only 90 miles north of NYC and even closer to Westchester Co. It's only a matter of time.

[True Blue American]

3. This is Ohio

My DIL’s Mother called her this afternoon. DeWine has declared an emergency.. I give him credit.

[Ms. Toad]

5. I have been very impressed with how he is handling it.

He has been letting the head of the Ohio Department of Health (Dr. Acton) run the show - and deferring to her on all things medical. She is level-headed - stressing the importance of being proactive without being alarmist.

I did not ever expect to be impressed by Governor DeWine, but I am.

[True Blue American]

6. So am I.

The Mother called, told them not to come, they would not be allowed in. She is in Hamilton.

[Ms. Toad]

8. We have an Aunt in Hudson someone visits daily

The initial word was we would not be allowed in (a disaster, since they need to have someone looking over their shoulder). So when the sibilng with the health care power of attorney called, she was told the initial communication was mistaken - that there would just be a one per day limit + the health check on the way in.

[True Blue American]

9. I called to let

Them know the facts. They had already heard.

Her Mother has sores on her leg. The bandages have to be changed every couple of days. The visiting Nurses were tearing off the bandages, reopening the wounds. They were supposed to be soaking them in Saline Solution,. The 2 Daughter's have been going to make sure it was done right. One Daughter is a Pharmacist.

Thanks for keeping us informed.

[Dennis Donovan]

7. I think sealing up nursing homes is a prudent move

They should do it all over the country. Maybe make exceptions for those whose loved ones are dying so they can be with them. But seal them off. This appears to be an efficient killing machine of the elderly.

[Ms. Toad]

11. Sealing them off means that residents will die from other things.

Nursing homes are notoriously understaffed. My aunt is in one of the better ones - yet every complaint we have filed about serious health care violations has been verified by the state and they have been ordered to fix them. Months later - they are still not fixed.

Our family provides substantial care for my aunt. So limiting, documenting, and performing health checks upon entry is good. Leaving them to the not-always-competent care there is not. So there need to be exceptions beyond for those who are dying.

[Ms. Toad]

4. One vsisitor per patient, per day.

DeWine said that nursing home patients would be limited to one visitor per day and that all nursing homes must create a visitor log if one does not already exist. All guests — including staff, vendors and visitors — will be required to have a brief medical assessment upon entry to verify their good health.

https://www.clevescene.com/scene-and-heard/archives/2020/03/11/ohio-to-limit-nursing-home-visits-will-issue-order-on-mass-gatherings-in-24-36-hours

Some are giving out inaccurate information - we were initially told none, but a second call clarified that the first person was mistaken.

[True Blue American]

10. He did say they were checking them before

They are allowed in.