Transporting Covid 19 patients out of state for treatment

[BrightKnight]

Would it make sense to transport some Covid 19 patience out of State or the area for treatment? Why not distribute more stable patients to hospitals that are not beyond capacity. IDK fly the to a hospital in Kansas. Family can’t visit anyway.

[MuseRider]

1. Really?

We have 75 counties that do not have an ICU. In 6 days our numbers have risen by 200 and we have no test kits. Do NOT fly them to Kansas, I have a very good friend stuck by himself at home with all the signs except a fever and the hospitals will not see him.

[DrToast]

2. Probably not easy to transport hospitalized patients

In China they had health care workers from surrounding areas come into the hot spots. That’s probably much easier.

[MuseRider]

3. That is a much better idea

and one that could be easier to do if there are places that can spare. That is looking a little grim at them moment. I would hate to try to move people that sick and infective.

[BrightKnight]

5. It is not just distributing the load to personnel

It is also equipment, supplies, and supporting infrastructure.

I worked for a County once. Hospitals were taken offline when they exceeded capacity. Patience generally had to be redirected. Not a good thing if a patient is having s heart attack and they might request an exception.

I’m just saying that if it is possible to find and use excess capacity then it should be done.

[MuseRider]

6. I don't think you are going

to find any state who has excess. Why would you assume that Kansas had extra beds? We have rural hospitals shutting their door in many small communities because we do not accept Medicaid. Our own numbers, as well as other places you think could take your excess, are swelling. AND no matter how much you think it would help your sick you would be risking them by moving them and risking personnel having to do it and bringing more into the states that have not even really begun this mess who have less money and personnel to handle it. I think this idea of yours is dangerous. This is coming from a retired ICU nurse. I am not just being cantankerous about this.

[Ms. Toad]

4. Ohio is moving to regional hospitalization

with non-COVID patients potentially being sent to pop-up hositals in dorms, hotels, or convention centers. The goal is to concentrate the COVID patients where there is the best capability for isolation and care. Some may be sent to hospital within the geographic area, but not the one they would normally go to. (State is working with insurers to ensure that in-network restrictions don't apply)