Update March 27, 2020: As of March 27, MAHC has increased its total ventilator capacity across both hospital sites to 21.
How well prepared is Huntsville District Memorial Hospital (HDMH) for a possible increase in critically ill patients due to the COVID-19 pandemic?
Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare (MAHC) CEO Natalie Bubela responded via email to questions from Huntsville Doppler regarding ventilator and Intensive Care Unit (ICU) capacity and availability of personal protective equipment for staff.
What is current ventilator capacity at HDMH? Are there any plans to increase that capacity in preparation for a possible increase in need due to COVID-19?
“The provincial Critical Care Strategy will coordinate and guide ventilator capacity in hospitals,” said Bubela. “MAHC has eight ventilators at HDMH and nine ventilators at SMMH [South Muskoka Memorial Hospital] that are capable of invasive ventilation. Equipment is just one piece of increased capacity. Also key is ensuring the availability of the proper skilled care providers to support the care required by ventilated patients.”
Update March 27, 2020: As of March 27, MAHC has increased its total ventilator capacity across both hospital sites to 21.
“Given MAHC has just been able to procure four additional ventilators, across both sites we now have the capability to ventilate up to 21 patients requiring ventilation, including COVID-19 patients. This is specialized medical equipment and because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Ontario Health is working with hospitals including MAHC to develop a comprehensive critical care strategy to plan clinical capacity, and coordinate and guide ventilator capacity in hospitals. This includes comprehensive planning to ensure we have the ability to transfer patients to the appropriate level of care when and if required.”
And the ICU?
“HDMH has five ICU beds and SMMH has four ICU beds. Each site has an additional surge bed,” said Bubela. “Our teams are working proactively to create additional clinical capacity. We have been reducing non-essential hospital programs and services to free up additional staff resources to be redeployed. At a greater regional level, hospitals in North Simcoe Muskoka are working to develop a comprehensive plan to ensure we have the ability to transfer patients to the appropriate level of care when required.”
We’re hearing personal protective equipment has been in short supply.
“MAHC monitors its Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) levels on a daily basis, and is in constant contact with Ontario Health and partner hospitals within our LHIN to help each other address critical supply issues. MAHC is following all public health and Ministry of Health directives related to PPE, and encouraging staff to use PPE responsibly but judiciously because there are broad supply chain challenges being felt all over Ontario,” said Bubela. “In light of the overall situation in the province, we have implemented a PPE Conservation Strategy. This strategy is based on the best scientific evidence of COVID-19 as well as an ethical framework, and will place us in a better position to ensure that the required and necessary protective equipment is available when our staff truly need it.
“We are also aware of many individuals, business and groups showing support by offering ways to help. We have developed a process to ensure that any gifted supplies are appropriate for hospital use, and the best way for these to come to either of our sites while keeping people safe and respecting the need for social distancing. We look forward to sharing this once finalized.”
[Note: Those able to provide supplies or equipment to assist the hospital can learn what’s needed and how to donate here: MAHC puts out call for donations of supplies to support COVID-19 preparedness].Related: Deerhurst Resort donates thousands of masks, gloves and disposable thermometers to local hospital
How are staff coping as they prepare for cases in this pandemic to reach this area?
“These are difficult, unprecedented and challenging times for everyone,” said Bubela. “For those working on the frontlines, there is anxiety and concern with the rapid and sometimes overwhelming speed of changing information. This is unchartered territory and everyone is doing the best we can. I know our staff want the greater public to listen to the advice of public health experts. They want you to support them at work by staying at home. With social distancing, we can reduce the spread of COVID-19 and protect each other. Stay home. Avoid public spaces. Avoid physical interaction with others. By following these simple rules, you are showing your health care workers your support.”
Is there any message you’d like to get out to the community about how MAHC is preparing for its first and additional cases?
“This is about teamwork – working together and supporting each other. We know this is not an ‘if’, it’s a ‘when’. We remind the public of the importance self-isolation when you are symptomatic. We all must recognize that a test will not change the treatment. Only the most acutely ill will require hospital care. Seek reliable information. Be prepared. Make smart decisions to protect yourselves and others around you.
“I would also like to thank the many individuals, businesses and groups that are showing their appreciation and support by reaching out to offer various ways to help. We are feeling the love and we are so grateful for every heartwarming offer. We are working through a process to ensure that any gifted supplies are appropriate for hospital use, and the best way for these to come to either of our sites while keeping people safe and social distancing. We’ll keep our communities posted as we formalize a process.”
Comments on supplies from the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit (SMDHU)
In a media teleconference on Saturday, March 21, Dr. Charles Gardner, the medical officer of health for SMDHU, addressed the issue of limited supply in personal protective equipment.
“The availability for some protective equipment has been an issue for sure, and hospitals have had to be very mindful, and other healthcare environments have had to be very mindful, of limits on that…And the province has had a very limited supply as well. So this is definitely an issue. One of the things of concern is ensuring we have enough equipment if you truly get into a big surge of cases that would draw much more on the equipment that we have. It’s vitally important that the supply issue be solved provincially and otherwise.”
He said that the health unit has been approached by some municipalities and the business community about donations of supplies. “We’re coordinating with Simcoe County and the central region for Ontario Health to receive those donations. We’ve been approached, for example, by the Muskoka Simcoe Dental Society to provide personal protective equipment from dental offices to be then used in healthcare settings. It was really excellent of them to do that. And so we’re coordinating how to receive them, and then distribute them when they’re needed. Right now, Simcoe County is setting itself up to assist with that process, and, of course, we need to look at how best to do that in Muskoka as well.”
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