Thread by @davlinnews

Listening to the CDH board meeting, and there are protesters in the building interrupting the director as he's trying to speak. Watch here.

Dr. Jim Souza says while hospital capacity is tough, the real story is staffing shortages.

"We are definitely employing what you would call contingency standards of care.” Not crisis, but “not adhering to our usual modus operandi.” They almost went on divert earlier this week.

St. Lukes "will move a mountain before we go on divert," Souza says, but they were almost there this week. "What spared us were some unanticipated deaths." #idahocovid19

A couple more outbreaks at long-term care facilities could push them over the edge, and the likelihood of that is very real, Souza says. Hope is diminishing. The margin for error is tight.

Meanwhile, I'm looking at statewide hospitalization data. On Tuesday, 496 people were hospitalized for COVID-19 statewide, yet another new record. #idahocovid19

Souza: If the governor declares crisis standards of care, it isn't hospital by hospital. It's statewide, or perhaps regional, but it means there are simply no available beds anywhere. There will be nowhere to divert.

Souza on crisis standards of care: "I believe it's more probable than not in the next 2 to 4 weeks, we will find ourselves at that point."

Rep. Blanksma notes that in a meeting earlier today, Gov. Little indicated he would declare crisis standards of care by region (sounds like two regions in the state), not statewide.

Here's how conventional, contingency, and crisis standards differ from each other in surgical units and intensive care units. Right now, St. Luke's and St. Al's are in contingency. Crisis standards looming. #idahocovid19

To be clear, this will affect EVERY part of care. EMS services, cancer treatment, etc.

If you are hospitalized, if you have a heart attack or an ankle fracture, your quality of care will not be the same as it was at this point last year. It will be worse.

St. Luke's and St. Alphonsus both predict the region will hit this level near the end of December or first of January. In response to a question about mobile medical units to increase bed capacity, the problem again goes to staff. There just aren't enough nurses and doctors.

Dr. Souza sounds so tired and sad as he points out that all of these healthcare workers are the same providers who have cared for our grandparents and delivered our babies. "None of these people are part of a conspiracy."

Commissioner Ryan Stirm, who works EMT, is saying we're nearing a point where dispatch may have to start directing people to drive themselves to the hospital, or that people with broken legs will be sent home with pain meds until doctors have the ability to operate.

And I just now got a push alert from CNN about how the 911 system is at a breaking point nationwide. Two weeks ago, the Idaho Falls fire chief warned EIPH about the same issue. #idahocovid19

Director Duke is recommending the board vote on Tuesday instead of tonight so CDH can make some changes to the draft order. Not clear yet if the board will follow that recommendation.

Here's a rundown of the last half-hour of the meeting:
-New draft order will be posted sometime tomorrow.
-Board scheduled to vote Tuesday.
-Some concerns brought up by some board members and staff: Youth sports, possibility of misdemeanor charges, negative feedback.

I'll post a link to the new draft when it's online tomorrow.