Butler Health System is moving into their Phase One surge plans as their intensive care unit reaches capacity.
According to Chief Medical Officer Dr. David Rottinghaus the ICU has 24 beds, and with the influx of COVID-19 patients requiring that level of care, the hospital needed to create additional beds for patients.
“We have filled all of the typical ICU sites of care that we would use even when we’re very busy,” Rottinghaus said. “So it’s not time for us to panic. It’s time for us to act strategically to on those plans we made before.”
Rottinghaus said the hospital is still committed to providing care for non-COVID patients, which is why the additional unit was necessary. He also said that the hospital has room to create more intensive care units.
“When we hit capacity in a normal unit we have open, then we will open other units and draw in staff as we need to,” Rottinghaus said.
However, Rottinghaus said his biggest concern is having enough staff.
“This biggest limitation is going to be in terms of staffing. And that’s going to be the same across all health systems.”
Clarion Hospital, which is a part of the Butler Health System, has also reached ICU capacity.
