Coronavirus - COVID19

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How is it possible that hospitals are out of ventilators? The government had private industry retool factories to produce them back in early 2020. I thought that we had produced an over abundance of them and were even sending them overseas because of the oversupply.
 
That's a good question... I don't know any more than you guys about that one. I will say, it's not JUST about ventilators - it takes special skills from the pulmonologist, to the critical care nurse, to the respiratory therapist to manage someone on a vent even if you have them available. In a lot of hospitals, just having enough monitored beds to place those patients in is an issue (and very limited). And then there is the fact that folks are leaving healthcare in droves due to the stress and risk associated with those jobs - and a lot of staff have gotten COVID themselves which further worsens short-staffing. So the lack of vents may be the least of the problems.
 
My question arose from Katie’s post about her hospital being out of ventilators. That was surprising to me based on the circumstances I mentioned about previous production efforts.
 
Yep - I saw that. I guess the first question is, did those supposed efforts really result in hospitals getting additional ventilators? I have not heard of it happening where I work or even at other local hospitals. If it has happened, it's been done quietly. My point was (to Katie as much as to you) that it's not just about throwing more ventilators into the mix. If you don't have the appropriate monitored beds and trained staff to manage them, you aren't going to be able to intubate more patients. Traditionally, you have no more than 2 patients to manage on a ventilator. I suppose you could push that out to more patients in a critical situation, but hospitals just don't have enough critical care staff to significantly care for 2 - 3X the usual load of intubated patients.
 
It’s complicated. Good to know. My guess is that there are warehouses full of ventilators somewhere that could be accessed. But, it’s the government so…
 
Yes. That's exact thing I pictured as I thought about this. That, and we've probably sent thousands of them overseas while American hospitals still don't have adequate supplies. That's what we do :)
 
Chris said:
How is it possible that hospitals are out of ventilators? The government had private industry retool factories to produce them back in early 2020. I thought that we had produced an over abundance of them and were even sending them overseas because of the oversupply.
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It’s not just a physical ventilator that we are out of. Our hospital expanded its ICU capacity by 150% with extra ventilators, but with ventilators comes all the ICU equipment and the specialists needed to run an ICU bed.

We are out of beds with vents. You could send us 100 more vents and it wouldn’t matter, we don’t have the staffing for the beds. In normal times, no problem, ship the patient. The problem now is no hospitals on the west coast are accepting transfers, from Washington to SoCal because they are overloaded.
 
Boone said:
That's a good question... I don't know any more than you guys about that one. I will say, it's not JUST about ventilators - it takes special skills from the pulmonologist, to the critical care nurse, to the respiratory therapist to manage someone on a vent even if you have them available. In a lot of hospitals, just having enough monitored beds to place those patients in is an issue (and very limited). And then there is the fact that folks are leaving healthcare in droves due to the stress and risk associated with those jobs - and a lot of staff have gotten COVID themselves which further worsens short-staffing. So the lack of vents may be the least of the problems.
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This is basically the issue. People are bailing left and right, on Sept. 30 we will officially lose 18% of our staff, tons of staff out on Covid, some with long hauler issues, it’s just a nightmare in rural America because rural areas are so vaccine resistant and Delta is just plowing through us. 🤦‍♀️
 
We ask those in health care to fight covid with no vaccine..they're heroes

We fire those in health care for not getting the vaccine.... they're villains.

We don't see the political scheme?
 
COVID booster on board and still kicking.
 
You got the booster?

Why if you don't mind me asking
 
Don't mind you asking at all.

I'm in a research project where I test myself for antibodies every month. The first 6 months after initial vaccination, was positive for antibodies every time. The past 2 months, negative. Doesn't mean I don't have some protection, but it's more questionable.

I also am missing most of one of my right lung lobes due to an accident when I was in the Marine Corps. I suffered a partially paralyzed diaphragm after the Gulf War for reasons MDs could not explain. So my respiratory status is suspect. I am in good shape for my age, but I don't think I'd do well if I got it. And finally, I work in a hospital full of COVID patients so it's recommended just for that reason alone.
 
Makes total sense why you would. Thank you.
 
Kicking my ass a bit tonight :)
 
Boone said:
Don't mind you asking at all.

I'm in a research project where I test myself for antibodies every month. The first 6 months after initial vaccination, was positive for antibodies every time. The past 2 months, negative. Doesn't mean I don't have some protection, but it's more questionable.

I also am missing most of one of my right lung lobes due to an accident when I was in the Marine Corps. I suffered a partially paralyzed diaphragm after the Gulf War for reasons MDs could not explain. So my respiratory status is suspect. I am in good shape for my age, but I don't think I'd do well if I got it. And finally, I work in a hospital full of COVID patients so it's recommended just for that reason alone.
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Did the base have a burn-pit at any of your locations? Starting to see a lot of vets with respiratory issues who were exposed to em.

Camp Anaconda had a nasty one and the smoke drifted right into the billeting. F’n Iraqi’s burned ANYTHING! Metal, trash, spent mortars, Freon, etc etc…
 
Yeah... and pretty sure we were exposed to nerve agent - we were next to 2 British Fox chemical weapons detection units the first day of the ground war and their nerve gas alarms were going off. Not sure what that might've done to me.

On a positive note, they say the chip in the booster vaccine is 5G so I'm getting an upgrade :)
 
Well when you get assimilated into the Borg I want all your hot spices inventory
 
Win4us said:
Well when you get assimilated into the Borg I want all your hot spices inventory
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On a serious note, gonna make a batch of lime salt with superhots soon. Anyone who wants some, I'll take care of...
 
They are rolling out the Pfizer boosters for those of us healthcare workers who originally got them last December and are interested. Not required yet and I haven’t gotten mine updated quite yet.
 
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