As hospitalizations rise, doctors struggle to admit patients to Wisconsin's field hospital

As hospitalizations rise, doctors struggle to admit patients to Wisconsin's field hospital


By Naomi Kowles Wednesday, November 18th 2020






MADISON, Wis. ......
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The number of COVID-19 patients across Wisconsin has nearly tripled since early October; the alternative care facility was opened to handle the surge when hospitalizations were still fewer than 900 across the state. On Tuesday, data from the Wisconsin Hospital Association dashboard showed 2,277 COVID-19 hospitalizations in Wisconsin.


..................... the facility has 530 beds with an expansion capacity of more than 700. Tuesday, just 23 patients were being treated there.

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But few are sent to the field hospital. The challenge, doctors say, begins with the patients themselves. There’s uncertainty about how an alternative care facility functions, and for patients in Dane County or the surrounding area–it’s far from home.

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Essentially, Dr. Pothof explained, convalescing patients aren’t yet ready to go home, but they’re not comfortable with the field hospital. And in the meantime, sicker patients need the care.

“They have a choice to say no,” a spokesperson for Meriter noted. Like UW Health, their recovering patients are declining the field hospital.

But doctors cite another concerning factor when determining whether patients would be eligible for the field hospital: most are just too sick. The facility is only equipped for low acuity care, and is primarily designed for health monitoring and support.

“You actually have to be fairly healthy to go to the field hospital. You can not be severely ill; you can not be requiring ICU level care to be transferred there,” Sauk Prairie Healthcare surgeon and chief innovation officer Dr. Nathan Grunewalk said. “It’s great that we have it; unfortunately, who’s appropriate for care there is somewhat limited.”......................................



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