MURRAY, Utah — Utah’s healthcare system is overwhelmed, and for the primary time throughout the pandemic, Gov. Spencer Cox mentioned there have been zero ICU beds accessible within the state.
Intermountain Healthcare officers added their voices to the warning, saying a staffing scarcity is affecting the variety of accessible ICU beds.
KSL-TV was informed Tuesday by a public well being worker that healthcare workforce shortages are actual and escalating, including that every one of us will quickly pay the worth.
Officers with the Utah Nurses Affiliation mentioned they’ve seen increasingly more nurses coping with psychological well being struggles due to the pandemic, on prime of the bodily stress that they already endure with their job.
“I believe there’s a tipping level and it has come,” mentioned Liz Shut, government director of UNA. “Nurses are feeling disheartened, damaged, deserted, exhausted, disrespected.”
Shut mentioned different states have come to her, asking if there are nurses in Utah that might journey to assist them, so it is a drawback that’s occurring throughout the nation.
Public well being officers mentioned there’s a technique to get round overwhelming our healthcare staff.
“The one largest factor you are able to do now to precise your gratitude is to masks as much as cease the unfold of COVID-19, and after you’ve put in your masks, get vaccinated when you haven’t already finished so,” mentioned Dr. Michelle Hofmann with the Utah Division of Well being.
Utah hospitals have mentioned they’ve the beds within the ICUs, however they don’t have the workers to at all times look after the sufferers.
They need the general public to take this info critically and defend themselves towards getting COVID-19.
