Twin Cities On 'Red Alert' For ICU Beds

ICU bed space is scarce because caregivers own infections or exposures


Only nine intensive care beds were available in the Twin Cities on Nov. 4 during a surge in COVID-19 cases, according to an article on the Star-Tribune website.

 ICU bed space is scarce because caregivers were unavailable because of their own infections or exposures.

"We're at a red alert for ICU beds,"  Michael Osterholm, director of the University of Minnesota's Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy, said in the article.

A record 908 inpatient hospital beds in Minnesota were filled with COVID-19 patients, according to the Nov. 4 pandemic dashboard update. 

Some nurses say their employers still aren’t giving them enough N95 masks, according to an article on an earlier Star Tribune article.

A survey of Minnesota nurses this summer found 49 percent felt unsafe with the N95 reuse policies in their workplace. 

Read the full Star Tribune article.

 

 



November 9, 2020


Topic Area: Infection Control


Recent Posts

What Does Light Daily Cleaning Miss in Patient Rooms?

Most environmental services workers still clean as if they are wiping dust off a countertop, not disrupting a living, structured community.


Smart Lighting Overhaul Boosts Efficiency, Diagnostics and Wellness at Bryan Health

Case study: LED upgrade and advanced controls across Bryan Health campuses cut lighting energy use by 57 percent while enhancing patient care and staff productivity.


AdventHealth Opens New Freestanding ER in Florida

The approximately 13,700-square-foot emergency room features 12 patient rooms, respiratory therapy services, diagnostic imaging including CT scans, X-ray and ultrasound.


Dirty Floors: How Pathogens Can Accumulate and Spread Underfoot

Studies show that healthcare floors are covered in bacteria and can quickly spread throughout patient rooms. 


WellSpan Health Opens Its Newberry Hospital in Pennsylvania

This marks the opening of its 10th hospital in the region spanning Central Pennsylvania and Northern Maryland.


 
 


FREE Newsletter Signup Form

News & Updates | Webcast Alerts
Building Technologies | & More!

 
 
 


All fields are required. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.