Grand Island Healthcare Workers Manage Uptick in Possible COVID Cases; Other Essential Workers Ask for More From State

While Grand Island is bracing for a further increase in COVID-19 cases, local hospitals are still holding their own. But the pressure to manage an influx of patients is falling heavily on hospital staff without specialized ICU training. And they're not the only workers feeling the pressure lately.

Central Health District Director Teresa Anderson says Hall, Merrick and Hamilton counties now share over 300 confirmed cases of COVID-19, with most cases in Grand Island.

Officials expect that number to peak in just a week and a half: the outbreak could ultimately overwhelm the area’s healthcare system, which Anderson said is already stressed.

“If we take our lessons from what's been happening in other parts of the country, I'm going to say the writing is on the wall,” she warned.

But providers have avoided hitting capacity so far. Ed Hannon, president of St. Francis Hospital in Grand Island, says patient volume has been steady, but not unmanageable. The hospital is currently about 50 percent full.

“About 65 patients a day are coming into the ER. Of that, maybe half have respiratory type symptoms," he said on a press call Thursday.

Those respiratory cases are often sent to a recently opened fast track area, where doctors can triage them for hospitalization.

ICU beds have been harder to come by, with fewer than five available Thursday afternoon. But only a handful of patients are being admitted each day, as the vast majority can manage their symptoms at home.

Mary Lanning Hospital, which is just south of St. Francis in Hastings, has not activated its surge plan to cope with an influx of coronavirus patients. Mary Lanning continues to have capacity and can take more patients: as of Thursday, eight people were being treated for COVID-19. Four remain on ventilators in the intensive care unit.

Similar to St. Francis Hospital, Mary Lanning is not struggling with a shortage of equipment or bed capacity. Director of Nursing Ronda Ehly said keeping ICU beds properly staffed is the bigger issue.

"Not every nurse in my hospital can take care of an ICU patient on a ventilator," she said.

"So I have to make sure that not only are our patients safely taken care of with a nurse with the right skill set, but also, those nurses that are stretching beyond their skill set feel comfortable and supported in what they're doing."

Workers across all essential fields are finding their boundaries stretched as they keep the state functioning. And in some cases, employees feel the state has been too unwilling to regulate employers' pandemic policies.

After hearing from workers who must deal with the public, ten Nebraska state senators asked Governor Ricketts to take more action to protect them from the virus.

In a letter, the lawmayers asked Ricketts to formally consider people working in food production, grocery stores, and pharmacies "front line emergency service providers". They also requested private businesses get additional guidance on best ways to keep their employees safe.

Senator Kate Bolz of Lincoln was among those making the request.

"We've heard from several workers who are concerned about the things that they're being asked to do on the job," she said.

"And we think that gubernatorial guidance to private employers could help give those employees the foundation that they need to advocate to their employers about things like access to cleaning products, safe social distancing, and remote work whenever possible."

Bolz and the other nine senators said they also continue to hear from state employees concerned about government departments keeping office hours. The letter requests Ricketts allow every state employee to work from home if possible, and temporarily close offices to the public.

For latest news, visit www.netnebraska.org/coronavirus.