On Friday, CHI Health, Methodist Health System and Nebraska Medicine chief medical officers (CMOs) held a joint meeting to discuss how local hospitals are working together to care for COVID-19 patients.
The CMOs included:
– Dr. Harris Frankel, Nebraska Medicine
– Dr. Bill Lydiatt, Methodist Health System
– Dr. Cary Ward, CHI Health
While cases continue to rise, they said capacity is still available but the hospitals are filling up. They say the new Directed Health measure that Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts introduced today, which will postpone certain surgeries based on their severity starting Monday, should help though.
The main issue area hospitals are facing at the moment is staffing said the CMOs. All three are carrying out balancing acts; having to call in staff from other hospitals and shifting patients to other locations to keep beds available.
They urged everyone to take the virus seriously and do their part to prevent the spread by avoiding confined spaces, avoiding crowds and gatherings, practicing good hand hygiene and masking up.