GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Brown County leaders, health professionals and hospitals are getting ready for the worst in the coronavirus pandemic, and trying to avoid it by “flattening the curve,” which means spreading the illness out, over a longer period of time.
Bellin Hospital’s president and CEO, Chris Woleske offered some insight on how the hospital is reacting to the pandemic.
There are plenty of factors that have to be considered, like hospital capacity and equipment needs but most importantly it’s stopping the spread of COVID-19.
“This is like Mt. Everest growing if it’s left unchecked.”
Woleske tells FOX 11 several factors have to be considered when responding to the world’s newest pandemic.
“We are very concerned about our ability to have enough equipment, again, if we’re not able to flatten that curve and spread the illness out over time. Very, very concerned.”
The curve Woleske is talking about shows the need for protective measures like social distancing, and practicing basic hygiene to prevent the healthcare system from being overwhelmed.
Woleske says that includes concerns from hospital capacity to the need for ventilators.
The spread of the coronavirus impacts healthcare workers too.
It’s why Woleske says Bellin, like other hospitals, are looking to both state and federal government to provide protective supplies for hospital workers.
“If our staff contracts the virus and becomes ill, that’s further going to constrain our ability to meet the needs of the community. So first and foremost is protecting our staff.”
Wisconsin’s number of confirmed COVID 19 cases continues to rise, reaching at least 111 by Wednesday.
Woleske says if the spread of coronavirus can be slowed down, “We save lives because we’re able to treat people with the resources that we have.”
On capacity needs for the hospital, Woleske says it has ways to increase the amount of people it can treat, whether it’s allowing more than one person to a room, or modifying its spaces to add more beds.
