Here's why experts are worried we won't have enough hospital beds to handle a surge of coronavirus patients

Day four of Italy's nationwide coronavirus lockdown, in Brescia
Day four of Italy’s nationwide coronavirus lockdown, in Brescia

Reuters

As the coronavirus spreads in the US, leaders are worried hospitals are going to start running out of beds. 

By some estimates, millions of Americans sickened by coronavirus might end up in the hospital. Nearly 2 million could require care in an ICU.

Adding to the challenge, the US has fewer hospital beds per 1,000 people compared to places like Japan, South Korea, and Italy, according to data compiled by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, or OECD. 

hospital beds per 1k comparison visual
hospital beds per 1k comparison visual

Ruobing Su/Business Insider

Read more: The coronavirus is set to push the US healthcare system to its limits — here are 8 things that hospitals risk running out of, from masks to ventilators

By far, Japan and South Korea have the most beds per 1,000 people, while places like Canada and the UK have just a bit fewer than the US. 

hosiptal beds per 1k
hosiptal beds per 1k

Ruobing Su/Business Insider

Finding space for critically ill patients

Not all hospital beds are created equal. Right now, hospitals need special rooms that can isolate people with contagious diseases like the coronavirus, known as negative pressure rooms. And intensive care unit rooms, where doctors provide advanced life-saving care, are also in demand amid the pandemic. 

“There’s beds, and then there’s ICU beds in a negative pressure room,” said Soumi Saha, a senior director of advocacy at Premier, which works with hospitals around the US.

To increase capacity, she said, EvergreenHealth in Kirkland, Washington, an early epicenter of the US COVID-19 outbreak, put 58 patients in 15 negative pressure rooms that typically hold one patient each. Premier is set to survey the hospitals it works with to get a sense of how much added ICU capacity each is able to make in light of the outbreak beyond their normal capacities. 

Elsewhere, hospitals have been canceling elective procedures. On Wednesday, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services recommended limiting all non-essential procedures indefinitely. 

Never miss out on healthcare news. Subscribe to Dispensed, our weekly newsletter on pharma, biotech, and healthcare.

Dr. Craig Coopersmith, interim director of the Emory Critical Care Center, oversees 300 ICU beds. He told Business Insider in March that many ICUs around the country are full on any given day. 

While hospitals can cancel surgeries and take other measures to free up space, a spreading coronavirus outbreak would stretch them to their limits, he said. 

Are you experiencing shortages of hospital beds or equipment in your hospitals? Business Insider would love to hear from you. Contact the reporter at [email protected].

Read the original article on Business Insider

source: yahoo.com