Alaska's Largest Hospital Says The Strain Of COVID Is Forcing It To Ration Care

https://www.npr.org/2021/09/16/ [login to see] /alaskas-largest-hospital-rationing-care-amid-coronavirus-surge
The stark situation of COVID's impact on Alaska has affected the ability of the state's largest hospital to provide care for some patients.

On Wednesday, the state reported 1,068 new virus infections — a level 13% higher than last week and one shattering the state's daily case rate since the pandemic began. The highest number of cases is in Anchorage, which reported more than 470 new cases.

The Providence Alaska Medical Center's Medical Executive Committee said Wednesday that it must implement a "crisis standard of care" amid the worsening coronavirus situation.

"While we are doing our utmost, we are no longer able to provide the standard of care to each and every patient who needs our help," the hospital said Wednesday. "The acuity and number of patients now exceeds our resources and our ability to staff beds with skilled caregivers, like nurses and respiratory therapists."

This also means elective surgeries, some of which have already been delayed for months because of the pandemic, will be pushed back yet again, the hospital said.