Pretty much reflects our system "sheer number of infections caused by the Omicron variant could strain the hospital systems, some of which have already suspended elective procedures as they struggle to handle the surge of patients amid staff shortages." We have shut down all elective procedures ONCE AGAIN... can't get our regular patients in for regular diagnostic exams and getting a sprained ankle an X ray means sending them over to Radiology to sit for a few hours with the sick folks in the waiting area. OUr area of Indiana has low vaccination numbers and we regularly have 8 to 10 patients cancel daily as they are sick.
Our nurses in the OR are doing work in ICU and on the floors that they have not done since graduating nursing school. Their surgical skills have been honed to a high level for years but they are admitting they have not taken care of a patient in a bed for a decade or so and are not very comfy doing it.
I ventured down to Athens and went to the game. I would love to return but I am not sure it is such a great idea if I want to keep showing up to work and be able to get through a surgical schedule. Got to Jackie Os and gone before the crowd, stayed out of crowds and tried to keep my distance. Even stayed out of the bathrooms and missed the new hand dryers blowing COVID around. I enjoyed the visit and admit I thought about the proximity of folks while eating my popcorn. My epidemiology training weighing out distances and activity in front and behind me. I think this is a reasonable response. Athens is definitely more aware and masked than Lancaster, Columbus or other places we passed through going to and from.