(WWJ) Beaumont is preparing to distribute the coronavirus vaccine when it becomes available.
The Health System says they have ordered 2 million syringes to vaccinate the people of Metro Detroit against COVID-19.
CEO John Fox made the announcement in a Zoom call with the press—regarding a halt, at least temporarily, in the Health System's merger talks with Milwaukee-based Advocate Aurora Health.
"We are preparing for the potential of a second surge right now this fall, doing a lot of work on that, and that takes priority over partnership discussions," Fox said.
Fox said doctors and nurses are under great stress right now-- because of the number of patients, regardless of COVID status, in treatment at Beaumont.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services reports 103 patients with a confirmed case of the virus were hospitalized in Beaumont as of Friday, with 19 in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). The bed capacity is at 77%, including all patients.
In comparison; Henry Ford has 109 COVID-positive patients with 21 in ICU. 81% of their beds are full. The Detroit Medical Center has 9 with 5 on ventilators (80% capacity); and Ascension has 78 patients, with 23 in the ICU (82.5% capacity).
Fox said the number of COVID-19 patients only tells part of the story.
"The adrenaline that got us through the first surge, and it truly was adrenaline for all of us working 7 days a week, 14 hours or 16 hours a day, plus all the frontline caregivers," Fox said. "We're now out of the sprint phase of the pandemic, and into the marathon. What you're dealing with now is cumulative exhaustion."
Fox told reporters about half of the doctors were "all hands-on deck" to care for a flood of COVID patients in March and April; while the other half had a lull in activity with elective procedures put on hold and 85% of surgeries being canceled.
Health systems also reported another disturbing fallout from the pandemic; where patients, out of fear of going to the hospital, did not seek or delayed potentially life-saving treatment for heart attacks, strokes and other conditions. In July, The Detroit News reported a 62% spike in out of hospital deaths statewide during the pandemic.
In a statement; Chief Medical Executive, Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, urged people to seek emergency medical care whenever experiencing chest pain, difficulty breathing or dizziness.
"We've got to be very careful in healthcare about measuring the cumulative effect of this pandemic and its wear and tear on not only physicians, staff, but all of us," Fox said. "And really make sure we've got each other's back and help each other out."
Part of the trauma stemmed from how quickly the hospital filled up with COVID-19 patients in March, Fox said.
"What happened at Beaumont, when we got our first patient on March 13, then shot up to over 1,200 patients in three and a half weeks, we flipped from being a very large med surge health system to one that was 65% COVID-19," Fox said. "We basically disassembled our old world at a very rapid rate."
The hospital scrambled to close operating rooms and transform them into Intensive Care Units and expand their ICU bed capacity by at least 40%.
"You try to make sure they (the healthcare workers) are getting the help they need, the support, and frankly time off and time out of the unit," he said.
However, while there is still much uncertainty ahead, Fox said he is confident there will be a light at the end of tunnel.
CBS News reports at least four vaccine candidates (Moderna, Pfizer, AstraZeneca and Johnson&Johnson) are in Phase 3 trials.
"We have ordered and are filling inventory for 2,000,000 hypodermic syringes that we believe will be needed to vaccinate patients in the first and second quarter of next year," Fox said. "And we want to be ready for that."
