OustedStrongman t1_iycmnqk wrote
the chart conflicts with the text of the article. it shows Maine at 72% use while the text says 109%.
also the chart indicates that we have 85 pediatric beds statewide. seems low on a per Capita basis but I have no point of reference for what is considered appropriate.
markydsade t1_iyctvem wrote
People don’t realize how few hospital beds are available day to day. The trick in normal times is to have 80-90% usage. It’s very expensive to have 24-7 staff so you’ll never have hundreds of empty beds standing by. The pandemic destroyed this model as it didn’t take much to overwhelm the system. This was the reason for lockdowns-just an attempt to keep hospitals from being even more overwhelmed.
DMvsPC t1_iyenjqh wrote
Not even that, Mercy for example is canceling nurse shifts leaving at times only two on the floor so they don't have to pay them for the day.
markydsade t1_iyfcxsm wrote
As a nurse for over 40 I’ve been driven crazy by the lean staffing practices of hospitals. One person calls out and everything gets worse for the remaining nurses. This gets them exhausted and then more likely to get sick. Rinse and repeat.
Dire88 t1_iyd80ql wrote
85 beds does not mean 85 beds available.
Staffing shortages, which have hit Maine hard, reduce bed availability. So you can be over capacity without using your total beds.
The bulk of chronic pediatric cases, such as genetic conditions or cancers, will end up in specialized hospitals which for Maine generals means Boston.
The bulk of local beds will be for acute cases such as surgical recovery, trauma recovery, and acute illnesses. Usually these don't take too much space. But we're in a perfect world for healthcare failures and a bad flu season on top of COVID resurgence.
bubba1819 t1_iycqpjk wrote
I see what you’re saying from the article. Maybe, the chart data was updated since Nov 24? The text says that the 109% was as of the 24th so maybe some children were moved to beds out of state or something. I do agree that the number of pediatric beds seems low but I also have no reference point.
Rredheadbedhead t1_iycunlz wrote
I used to work in pediatric emergency preparedness. The important thing to know when you’re talking “beds” in this sense is that it’s not about physical furniture, it’s about staffing and equipment. 1 bed = x skilled staff (nurses and docs) + y equipment (pediatric capable ventilators etc- many adult vents can’t be used for pediatric patients) and other considerations. Many large hospitals will only have a handful of pediatric critical care beds.
SobeysBags t1_iyddlx8 wrote
I always wondered why they don't use the term "medically staffed beds" to avoid this confusion. So many people think "beds" just means furniture and they will be magically staffed by nurses and doctors.
bubba1819 t1_iydjuud wrote
With the shortage of medical staff and everything it makes sense then why the numbers appear low
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