Thread by @MickeyDjuric

A #COVID19SK 🧵: Today @drsusanshaw graciously spent 40 minutes with me over the phone discussing the state of Sask’s health-care system that is overwhelmed by COVID. She says it’s important to talk about/share this information. Thread continues below..

theglobeandmail.com/canada/article…

Saskatchewan is already in Stage 1 of its triage plan. Surgeries are getting delayed so that those who are in a car crash or have COVD-19 can have immediate access to an ICU bed. #covid19sk

Today there are 76 residents in ICUs. If we hit 119 ppl in ICUs, Sask will enter Stage 2 of its triage plan. Doctors will then have to consult their ethics team to decide who gets life-saving care.

The health authority projects we will hit 125 ppl in ICUs by Sept. 30. #covid19sk

Sask’s triage/critical care plan states that in Stage 2, people with end-of-life organ failure or someone over 80 who has a heart attack would be excluded from ICUs. Important to note: Stage 2 has never been activated throughout the pandemic. #covid19sk

They will still get care, but it won’t be in an ICU setting, which would mean a matter of life-and-death. “I’m going to do everything I can to make sure it doesn’t happen, but I worry that it will. I think it’s likely,” Dr. Shaw said. #covid19sk

Dr. Shaw urges ppl to talk about their end-of-life goals with their families and doctors: “So that should you ever need ICU, your family knows what you want, and we can continue to provide care based on your values. That’s where we’re at.” #covid19sk #skpoli

The SHA is currently building more space to make room for up to 175 ICU beds, which far exceeds the province’s baseline of 79. It is also increasing hospital capacity care for a total of 350 COVID-19 patients who won’t need ICU. #covid19sk

Hospitals in Saskatchewan (Prince Albert, Saskatoon, North Battleford) are routinely on bypass. Residents in these surrounding areas who need intensive care are getting sent to Regina, Swift Current, Moose Jaw and Yorkton. #covid19sk

STARS Ambulance says 16% of its calls (between Sept. 1-16) in Saskatchewan and Alberta are just for transferring COVID-patients (this time last year it was 3-4%). #covid19sk #COVID19AB

STARS Ambulance says it was asked by the Saskatchewan Government to staff another helicopter for a period of time, where its primary role is to be transferring COVID-19 patients. #covid19sk #skpoli

ICU patients in Saskatchewan are getting removed from their rooms, put into air ambulances, and getting transferred to another ICU unit at different hospitals so the health authority can ensure there’s capacity and safety in all units, Dr. Shaw said. #covid19sk #skpoli

Saskatchewan once again (as we saw in spring) has rooms where 2 COVID-patients may be in one room to utilize limited staff and resources. ICU beds is expanded into other wards, and critical advanced care students from Saskatchewan Polytechnic are helping. #covid19sk #skpoli

Health officials are bracing for things to get worse. Hospitalizations we’re seeing today are from cases 2-3 weeks ago. We have yet to deal with the results of having 400+ cases a day and what that will mean for our ICUs/hospitals. #covid19k

The surge in hospitalizations is predominantly fueled by the unvaccinated. Yesterday CMHO Dr. Saqib Shahab said if the province’s proof of vaccine policy + mask mandate doesn’t work to reduce hospitalizations, more measures will be needed. #covid19sk #skpoli

.@drsusanshaw says ppl in ICU include the unvaccinated, those who don’t believe in the science, and those who don’t trust: “They are dying as a result of misinformation. It’s a huge public health risk, misinformation.” #covid19sk #skpoli