BVH creating new negative pressure rooms

Blanchard Valley Hospital admitted many more COVID-19 patients overnight Monday, and had to transfer two to other hospitals. Now, hospital leaders are creating more negative pressure rooms for patients — and hoping their overworked staff stays healthy. "We are stable, but we are still stressed," Dr. Bill Kose, vice president of special projects for Blanchard Valley Health System, said Tuesday afternoon. Kose said "several people" were kept waiting for a bed in the emergency department until about 5 a.m. Tuesday, when beds finally became available. And staff just "continue to be really busy." The hospital census was 137 patients on Tuesday. Blanchard Valley Hospital is licensed for 150 beds, but this includes psychiatric and obstetrics beds, and obstetrics beds are licensed specifically for obstetrics patients. Kose said in a previous interview that the hospital's number of regular beds available is closer to 130. He said Tuesday that an area for COVID-19 patients is being created on the south end of the hospital. The hospital can build a negative pressure room by putting an air pressure unit outside of the room, and Kose said they are in the process of creating more of these, with a goal of having about 60. But maintenance staff are also stretched thin, and the numbers may get to the point where not every COVID-19 patient can be in a negative pressure room. Negative pressure rooms are designed for COVID-19 patients with special ventilation so air from inside the rooms does not circulate in the rest of the building. The health system had asked for, and received, the state's permission to use 12 beds that were designated for obstetrics overflow as regular beds. Kose said hospital leaders are moving in equipment, and the hope is that these 12 beds will be available by early next week. Elective surgeries were still being performed as of Tuesday. Kose said the plan is to continue doing elective surgeries this week if possible, but that may change in the near future. And he pointed out that a surgery being "elective" means that it's possible to schedule it a few days in advance. These surgeries include necessary procedures to treat tumors and bowel obstructions. Patients who have a surgery scheduled in the near future should anticipate that they will get a call the night before — either to confirm the surgery or to be informed that it is being postponed. Kose said a concern is that doctors' offices will be closed over the Thanksgiving weekend, which may affect the hospital. "But we will be here," he said, adding that Physicians Plus, the health system's urgent care service, will also be open. He said he doesn't anticipate things improving next week. The big question is whether things will get worse. And he said transferring patients to other hospitals in the region may not be an option soon, as other hospitals might also be full. "We've got to figure out how to do this ourselves," he said. Kose said staff are working very long hours, sometimes going many days without a day off. "We're trying to keep them well," he said. The hospital has contingency plans to add more beds in other areas but, Kose said, they need the people to staff them. Last week, CEO Scott Malaney said the health system has been moving staff members from other areas to address shortages. For example, someone who has a clinical background but is now doing administrative work might be temporarily moved to the bedside. The hospital has asked retired nurses to help out, too, and encourages anyone who has worked at the hospital in any capacity — including things like cleaning and maintenance — to reach out if they are willing to work. Anyone interested should go to the health system's website — www.bvhealthsystem.org — and click on "careers." As for the general public, the way you can help is by taking care of yourself, Kose said. This includes wearing a mask, distancing and staying away from groups. The more people do this, the fewer people the hospital will see in its emergency room, Kose said. Kose said when people say there is a 1 in 100 chance of dying from COVID-19, that may sound small — "as long as you're not the one." Blanchard Valley recently had to put a young adult on a ventilator, he said. Kose said he wants the public to better understand, though, that the virus is very contagious, and it is easy to get. And, he said, scientists still don't understand why one patient might do well and another might get much sicker.