How Surging Delta Variant is Leading to Rationed Care at Hospitals

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  • More than 9 months after COVID-19 vaccines were first administered to the general public, health systems in multiple states are reporting having to ration care.
  • The Idaho Department of Health & Welfare has implemented Crisis Standard of Care, essentially rationing care in order to save as many people as possible.
  • In Montana, the governor deployed at least 400 National Guard troops to help a hospital system that will imminently start rationing care.

​As the Delta variant surged in the United States, hospitals in some states have become overwhelmed. As a result, some non-COVID patients are starting to be affected by the ongoing pandemic and in some cases are facing rationing of medical treatment and inability to find a hospital bed.

When hospitals run out of beds or staffing is low, tough decisions need to be made about who gets a priority of care. There are reports about hospitals choosing who gets an intensive care unit bed and who doesn’t — a difficult but sometimes necessary decision with the limited resources that are available.

Source: healthline