Minnesota hospitals warn they are ‘overwhelmed’ in full-page ad
Minnesota hospital leaders are warning in a full-page newspaper ad that they are “overwhelmed” amid a COVID-19 surge and are urging the public to take action.
“Our emergency departments are overfilled, and we have patients in every bed in our hospitals,” write the leaders of nine hospital systems in the state, including the Mayo Clinic and North Memorial Health.
The hospitals warn that because their capacity is strained, care for noncoronavirus medical events, like heart attacks, is also threatened.
“Now, an ominous question looms: will you be able to get care from your local community hospital without delay? Today, that’s uncertain,” they write in the ad, which is running in major newspapers across the state.
Minnesota has the third-most per capita COVID-19 cases in the country, according to the COVID Act Now tracking site, behind New Hampshire and Rhode Island.
Almost 1,800 people are in the hospital with COVID-19 in Minnesota, approaching the height of the winter peak last year, before vaccines were widely available.
Other states are also facing strains at their medical facilities. Massachusetts hospitals, for example, are cutting back on some elective surgeries.
The Minnesota hospital leaders point out that many of the hospitalizations could be prevented, given that COVID-19 hospitalizations across the country are being driven largely by the unvaccinated.
“Every day we’re seeing avoidable illness and death as a direct result of COVID19,” the ad says.
“How can we as a society stand by and watch people die when a simple shot could prevent a life-threatening illness?” it adds.
The hospital leaders call on people to get vaccinated and get their booster shots, as well as to wear a mask.
Scottie's Playtime 
Hi Scottie;
I went on a rant again. Sorry. Delete this if you like. My fingers got away from me.
In my community we have one major hospital and two minor ones, if that term could be used. When the covid virus had things shut down the “major” hospital was tasked with covid care. What that meant was that due to the already “infected” status of the hospital, it was to take all covid cases. Workers who worked at that hospital, be they doctors, nurses, emt, janitorial, etc., couldn’t work at the other hospital unless they were off for a period of time and passed a covid test. Further, due to the “infected” status of the major hospital, no unnecessary surgeries were to be done to reduce the risk of catastrophic infection into a weakened patient.
At the “minor” hospitals, necessary surgeries could be done, but necessity was the key word. Those things that were not life threatening were delayed, so I was slowly going blind due to cataracts. I was nearing the limit of my driving, I could no longer do my job effectively because I couldn’t see the defects, and I was forced to begin medical leave preparations in the midst of worker shortages at my place of employment – which I assure you were not well received by my coworkers. I was not alone in this as doctors told me of patients being forced to stay home in various degrees of discomfort, gambling on surviving whatever their ailment brought them until they could get in. Doctors were getting sick, nurses, staff, and so others were laid off due to a lack of work and the requirement of a back up supply of skilled workers should the worst come to those still working.
For each person who thumps his podium and rants about his freedom, I would call to remember that you are not alone on an island. Your actions have repercussions, consequences that you may never become aware of, that are still potentially monumental despite your ignorance or innocence of intent. For every person who is stuck in a traffic jam, waiting in line at the grocery, waiting at the mail box for delivery of a loved one’s letter, we all know we are not alone and we live this “Free” life with the Responsibility to act in care of those around us.
I would challenge those who demand their freedom at the expense of others that you are not being independent, you are being childish and selfish. How do I know this? Because the very people you ignore and endanger in your quest to be free are the same ones you will call on to help you when you fall. I would challenge those who demand to breathe free in public areas because you are an “Amrcan, Dammit!” that the Declaration of Independence that you wrap around yourself begins with the words “ONE PEOPLE”. The Constitution that you say you treasure begins with the words “WE THE PEOPLE”. We are only one people, we the people, because people came together for the betterment of all and shared the responsibility of being greater than just a single person to create this freedom you squander.
Hugs.
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EXCELLENT RANT!!!
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Hello Randy. I love it. Very well said. No chance I would delete a single word. Too many people demand their rights with no thought of their responsibilities. Hugs
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