Medical professionals in Mississippi are warning that the state is in 'the eye of a hurricane' for COVID-19 hospitalizations. The department of health reports the state is fifth in the nation for Coronavirus cases per capita, and infected patients are filling up hospitals. State Health Officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs says some hospitals have resorted to keeping patients overnight in emergency rooms. He says overfilling the ER can lead to additional bad outcomes. "And when I talk to my ER colleagues I'm understanding they can't get them anywhere because there's nowhere to send them," says Dr. Dobbs. "We're sending people out of state all the time because Mississippi hospitals can not take care of Mississippi patients."
Dr. LouAnn Woodward is Vice-Chancellor of the University of Mississippi Medical Center. She says the people of Mississippi need to know that if they need critical care in an emergency room there will be space for them. "But I'll tell you right now, at the medical center, we are full," says Dr. Woodward. "Many days in the last few weeks we have had more patients than we have had rooms. And we have been holding admitted patients in the emergency department and other places."]
Dr. Alan Jones with UMMC says this won't just impact people with the coronavirus, but every person in the state who needs medical care. He says "We're the only hospital in the state that cares for major trauma. We're the only hospital in the state that cares for transplant patients. These are not things that are elective. These are things that save lives. And if we continue to see this trajectory we won't be able to do those things. We'll be overrun."]
To ease stress on the healthcare system, The University Medical Center has launched a Mask Up Mississippi campaign to encourage everyone to wear a mask to help slow the transmission of the virus.
