Officials at the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance are working to be more transparent when it comes to COVID patients.
CEO Lori Marshall says daily updates now include whether patients are being treated for COVID-19, or were admitted for another reason but also happen to have COVID-19.
“When an individual comes into hospital, they are swabbed, we do the test, we determine if they are COVID positive, and then there is an additional layer of scrutiny that goes to this in terms of the treatment that’s being provided to that individual and also what they’re here for in the hospital.”
Marshall says it’s important to remember that patients admitted with COVID rather than for COVID shouldn’t be downplayed because they still require additional time and resources, putting additional pressure on the overall health care system.
“”Whether it’s related to the personal protective equipment that we use, whether it’s related to the isolation practices we use and the types of rooms, whether it’s private, semi-private in allocating beds throughout the organization, still quite intensive with respect to what’s required for someone who’s being treated with COVID as opposed to someone who is being treated for COVID.”
As of Wednesday’s update from CKHA, 32 COVID patients are in hospital right now, 59% are being treated primarily for the virus while 41% were admitted with COVID.
CKHA is now posting its daily COVID updates online – CLICK HERE to read more.
