CEO of Saint Joseph Health Systems Chad Towner predicts ‘crushing wave’ of hospitalizations
MARSHALL COUNTY — CEO of Saint Joseph Health Systems (SJHS) Chad Towner predicted a “crushing wave” of hospitalizations within the next two weeks as a result of a daily average of 1,000 new cases in the region.
according to Towner, SJHS data suggests that 21 percent of patients who test positive will need hospitalization.
During a press conference Thursday, Towner said, “We are approaching a very dangerous tipping point that could be crushing to the health care system in this region.”
Towner said that the Mishawaka and Plymouth campus is at capacity; and that other area hospitals are reporting the same. “Our COVID units are full. Our emergency departments have exceeded capacity and we are holding patients in our emergency departments because there are no beds upstairs.”
He emphasized that for each
new COVID bed they accommodate; the hospital’s ability to care for heart attack patients, stroke patients and other medical conditions that require hospitalizations is reduced by one more.
Towner said, “There is a bunch of numbers that I can share with you but the most important number that I learned yesterday is the number four. Four people within Saint Joseph Hospitals had their last breath because of COVID. Four families were devastated by a loss that shouldn’t have happened. It started with four people that infected those individuals. Four people that maybe it was naivety, or complacency, or defiance, chose not to follow the guidance of masking, distancing and just the simple act of washing our hands.”
Towner referred to national news to validate that hospitals across the nation are struggling. He reported a 46% increase from Wednesday to Thursday of staff members placed on quarantine because of exposures.
He suggested that those exposures took place while in the community as opposed to the hospital. “So, the next time you are out in the community and those of you who choose not to wear a mask, you have no idea who you are standing next to. And you just might be standing next to the nurse who will hold the hand of your loved one on their last day. Or a surgeon who might not be available to do a life saving procedure for you or one of your loved ones because they are out with COVID because of an exposure to someone who might not have even known that they had it.”
Towner is calling on the public to wear a mask, wash their hands and social distance. “This is a very grave situation. I cannot stress enough how much we need your help.”