Head of Wisconsin Hospital Association Wants People to Understand Pressure Put on Health Care Workers

Monday, September 27th, 2021 -- 8:08 AM

(Bob Hague, WRN) As COVID-19 cases continue to surge across Wisconsin, the head of the Wisconsin Hospital Association wants people to understand the pressures that's putting on health care workers.

Wisconsin Hospital Association CEO Eric Borgerding says in particular, ICU beds are hard to find for the critically ill. "ICU capacity across Wisconsin right now is really, really tight."

Borgerding notes the current wave of coronavirus patients tend to be younger and sicker, and in the hospital longer than last fall. And the majority are unvaccinated. "It's really my hope that folks will understand we're really stressed right now, and not just take for granted that the health care system can handle this."

Borgerding wants people to understand the pressures that's putting on hospitals. "Folks need to understand that the capacity of our health care system is not infinite, that the resilience of . . . our front line health care workers . . . is not bottomless."

Amid the current wave of COVID-19 patients who tend to be younger and sicker, and in the hospital longer than last fall, Borgerding says health care workers are feeling the pressure.

"Our health care workforce is tired. They are stressed. They are frustrated. But the state ows a lot to those folks because here we are again. Here we go again . . . and it's very difficult on them and on hospitals across the state."))     

The state Department of Health Services has reported that the majority of hospitalized COVID patients are unvaccinated, and that vaccination remains the best protection against serious illness and death.

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