Alberta ER Doctor Says Health Triage Has Already Begun

EDMONTON – The Alberta Medical Association’s director of emergency medicine says the major components of triage have already begun in Alberta.

Dr. Paul Parks said that in recent days, some seriously ill COVID-19 patients who should be on ventilators are not receiving them. That is in addition to previously announced massive surgery cancellations, along with patient transfers, as doctors balance medical need with available space, he said.

Parks said it has become routine in hospitals in the last two weeks to have some critically ill patients, most of them with unvaccinated COVID-19 cases, kept in main wards rather than intensive care units. with fans because they don’t have the resources.

“We are already in positions in many Alberta hospitals where doctors know it would be best for this patient to be in the ICU and have a ventilator, but we will not provide that option until he is absolutely deteriorating to the point of collapse,” Parks said Friday. In an interview.

“We are already implementing some of these things that are drastic and we wish we never had.

“People will suffer and die from this.”

Parks said it’s not at the point where doctors have to make life-and-death decisions on the spot. But that is not too far, he said, and when it does come, the second stage of triage will follow quickly, including making those same decisions about children.

Alberta Health Services is doing all they can, he said, but the government has failed to lead by imposing lax health restrictions and allowing mass gatherings, including at schools and sporting events.

Alberta is seeing more than 1,000 new COVID-19 cases a day.

Parks said there must be an immediate response, including mandatory mask mandates everywhere and school closings and mass gatherings.

Alberta Health Services Director Dr. Verna Yiu said Thursday that a key reason intensive care wards have not been overwhelmed is because enough COVID-19 patients are dying to free up space in the bed.

Dr. Paul Parks said that in recent days, some seriously ill COVID-19 patients who should be on ventilators are not receiving them. That is in addition to previously announced massive surgery cancellations, along with patient transfers. #Alberta

This Canadian Press report was first published on September 24, 2021.

Reference-www.nationalobserver.com

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