Watching Edmonton City Council hearing from Edmonton Zone Medical Staff Association doctors this morning. Some notes that were surprising to me who is dialed into this everyday...
#yeg #yegcc #COVID19AB @EZMSA2
- In 4-5 days current hospital capacity will be overwhelmed as there will not be the staff to man the additional needed ICU beds - they are also not trained properly to administer to ICU patients as they are being re-directed from their areas of specialization.
- Hospital admissions, ICU admissions and deaths are all significantly increasing to where the curve is almost straight up.

- Patients are seemingly fine and about the be discharged then within minutes doctors are calling a code for a crash cart for that patient.
- People are getting sick around 10 days after their swab.

- In hospital, we are seeing these impacts on everyone – not just those with pre-existing conditions.

- COVID patients decompensate quickly. We (medical staff) need do early intervention.
- Dr. Bakshi: I am seeing a patient once then having to call their family to tell them their loved one is dying. With the system being overwhelmed we cannot get to these patients early enough to treat them and increase positive outcomes.
- Death is occurring around the 10-day mark of hospital admission.

- In 20% of cases, COVID-19 symptoms are persisting for months, which adds to the strain on the healthcare system.

- Unlike the flu, patients are staying much longer in hospital.
- We (Edmonton and Calgary) may have to very soon move to a triage system; making decisions on who gets care and who doesn’t (like what happened in Italy).

- With the current surge, we cannot provide a higher level of care, resulting in a higher mortality rate.
- Treatment doesn’t keep people out of the ICU; prevention does.

- For perspective, we have had 2 jumbo jets full of Albertans that have died.

- No matter how you cut it, December and January are going to be terrible for our health system.
Information was concise, consistent and based on statistics and data. A bit speechless at the moment. All I can think about is our healthcare staff and what they must be going through everyday. Wish I could say more than thank you. It doesn’t seem enough. @EZMSA2 @UnitedNurses
For reference here are some of the graphics shared by @EZMSA2
#yeg #yyc #COVID19AB
At one point Dr. Bakshi said:
We are not just healthcare workers. We are Edmontonians.
We are scared about getting our loved ones and others in our community sick.
We are working around the clock to ensure we have enough staff.
We are demoralized and exhausted.
#yeg @EZMSA2
Just found out Dr. Bakshi is on Twitter if you want to give her a follow; @NeejaB - thank you and your coworkers for everything you are doing. And for being open, honest and vulnerable today in your answers.
You can follow @storyofangie.
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