The hospital reported its intensive care unit was at 104 percent capacity Oct. 16, and it said it was working to set up more ICU beds staffed to accommodate the increase in hospitalizations.
The additional beds are staffed by nurses and physicians working overtime, University of Utah Hospital CMO Russell Vinik, MD, told KUTV.
“Long term, this is a very difficult thing for our staff to be able to maintain,” Dr. Vinik told KUTV.
Dr. Vinik also said that elective procedures have been postponed at the hospital to allow staff to care for critically ill patients.
“We’ve cut back where we can, but it’s precarious. We are very concerned about flu season, particularly if people don’t get vaccinated. We can’t take another hit,” Dr. Vinik told Newsweek.
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