Today I had an opportunity to speak about the current state of our hospitals, as Delta, and soon Omicron, variants fuel a surge of unvaccinated patients.
I shared the podium with several thoughtful speakers, and the entire 47 minutes is worth a watch if you have time:
Here is a copy of my remarks:
Hello. My name is Dr Peter Bornstein. I am an Infectious Disease specialist with St Paul Infectious Disease Associates, Ltd. My partners and I see patients at four hospitals and two clinics in the East Metro area. I am also a Medical Director for Infection Prevention and Employee Health with Fairview Health Services.
I would like to thank Commissioner Malcolm, Director Ehresmann and the fine folks at Children’s Minnesota for this opportunity to share some of my experiences over the last year—and to ask for your help.
Here is a picture of me on December 19, 2020 at M Health Fairview St John’s Hospital, as one of the first recipients of the Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine at our facility. Under that mask, I am smiling and full of hope. I knew that the vaccine would protect me against serious illness, and reduce the risk that I would bring Covid-19 home to my family.
This next picture is from my favorite day of this year. This is the day I worked alongside my wife, a retired school nurse, as volunteer vaccinators at a community health center in Brooklyn Center, MN. It was my favorite day, because I knew that almost every person we vaccinated was someone I would not see as a patient in the hospital, fighting for breath.
Those were days of hope—that enough people would receive a safe and effective vaccine to prevent hospitals from filling and patients and families from suffering.
But after successive waves of ever more transmissible virus, and people who remain unvaccinated, the hospitals where I work alongside the most compassionate and dedicated people you will ever meet, are filled beyond the brim.
One hospital has turned its physical therapy gym into a temporary ward of four beds, some curtains and a nurse.
All the hospital Emergency Rooms are so full that patients wait in hallways for a space to open up—or are seen and examined in the ER waiting room, as we know space will not become available.
Every morning, I look at our health system capacity dashboard to see how many patients have been “boarding” in the ER. Boarders are patients that should have been admitted, but no beds are available—so they wait for hours or days in rooms and on gurneys that were never designed for more than stabilizing and assessing patients, not for staying for days. Each day that boarder number seems to get higher and higher.
I listen to an ICU charge nurse say, “The only way we will have an open bed today is if someone dies.” Covid-19 patients tend to linger in the ICU, because by the time Covid-19 patients get to the hospital, the treatments we have are not very good. Vaccines are so much better at preventing illness than we are at treating it once it develops.
I listen to Intensive Care doctors, who have worked more hours than they thought possible, have to turn away patients from referring doctors in greater Minnesota who need a higher level of service than can be provided at their small hospitals.
I listen to hospital doctors who say they cannot transfer ANY patient, Covid-19 or not, to facilities to treat stroke or acute heart attack.
I listen to spine and other surgeons whose patients have had needed surgeries delayed for months—because there is no space for their recovery in the hospital. So patients continue to live in pain.
It doesn’t have to be like this—is the thought that runs through the mind of EVERY nurse, doctor or therapist that works in Minnesota hospitals. This suffering and death doesn’t have to happen.
Here is my ask: If you have been vaccinated—thank you. Please get a booster. If you have not been vaccinated, it is not too late. Please get vaccinated. Please don’t be a statistic in our hospital. Every Covid-19 patient I see says, “I didn’t think it would happen to me.” Except it did. They almost all regret not having been vaccinated.
If you caught Covid-19 and recovered, God bless. Please get vaccinated anyway, because we are seeing patients come in with their second bout of Covid-19.
Finally, regardless of whether you have been vaccinated or not, recovered or not, young or not, please wear a mask indoors when you are in public spaces. Masks are an effective tool for preventing the spread of Covid-19 to other people around you.
Thank you for time. Please take care yourselves and our fellow Minnesotans.
I saw you tonight on the news. My heart is aching for all of my Spida docs as well as the other health care workers. I pray everyday for Spida for your health and mental well-being. Praying God would mercifully put to death this virus. So many people I know have died from covid and all unvaccinated! My brother and sister in law had it in August, still have SOB and blood clots, alive, also unvaccinated. I don't understand the stupidity and unkindness of people. Blessings to you, your family and all of Spida. Carol Henry
My brother-in-law, Dr Brian Hartz, has been sharing your blogs with me. Do you
have data on the efficacy of J&J, Pfizer
and Moderna from the initial vaccination
and how it wanes over time. When a booster is added, what is now the total efficacy?
Are you seeing vaccinated and boostered individuals in ICU? If so, are those patients with underlying health issues and/or is this
more prevalent in certain age groups?
Your blog is very interesting and I share with
family and friends.
Carol Beveroth