Alaska allowing hospitals to ration care

[struggle4progress]

BY JOSEPH CHOI - 10/04/21 03:07 PM EDT

The Alaska Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) on Saturday activated crisis standards of care for 20 hospitals in the state as it struggles with the latest surge in COVID-19 cases, with some hospitals resorting to having to ration health care.

"Today’s action recognizes that Alaska has an interconnected and interdependent health care system, requiring the need for activation of the State’s decision-making framework. That framework includes a progression of conventional, contingency and crisis standards of care identifying strategies to be used depending on the situation and types of resource shortfalls being experienced," the state health department said in its announcement.

Crisis standards of care are guidelines that can be used by health care providers during a disaster or public emergency when not enough resources are available to provide the normal standard ...

https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/575211-alaska-allowing-hospitals-to-ration-care-as-virus-cases-surge

[struggle4progress]

1. Alaska crisis standards now active for 20 healthcare facilities

Kelly Gooch - 15 hours ago

... The state's crisis standards of care were activated Oct. 2 because of "the current surge in COVID-19 cases and a shortage of resources within some hospitals," according to a news release from the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services.

This action was taken after the state's Crisis Care Committee requested it be activated.

"This activation was requested by the Crisis Care Committee so our healthcare providers could continue to provide the best medical care possible for Alaskans under good faith immunity," said Alaska Department of Health and Social Services Commissioner Adam Crum. "The availability of resources and staff changes daily within these facilities. The state's Patient Care Strategies for Scarce Resource Situations, which includes decision-making guidance for implementing crisis standards of care, is now available to these facilities should they need them. I want to stress that our healthcare facilities in Alaska remain open and able to care for patients. Alaskans who need medical care should not delay seeking it, even during these difficult times."

Crisis standards of care give healthcare providers a framework to use to make patient care decisions during a disaster or public health emergency like the pandemic ...

https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/patient-flow/alaska-crisis-standards-now-active-for-20-healthcare-facilities.html

[captain queeg]

2. One could almost call then "death Panels". The big scary reason the Rs resisted single payer coverag

It sounds like we’ll see some form of this at some places. Wonder how the RW will paint it to blame the “Libs”.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

3. If a new variant occurs, even more virulent than the others,

rationing of care will be everywhere.

Honestly, I wish that at this point in the pandemic those who are not vaccinated would be refused admission to hospitals if they present with Covid. No vaccine, no care.