News File Photo Alpena Township emergency medical technicians prepare to transport a patient at MidMichigan Medical Center-Alpena, where signs of appreciation line the lab windows in this March 2020 News archive photo.

ALPENA — As COVID-19 sweeps through the state, leading to 75 more deaths and over 1,000 new cases reported on Tuesday, communities wonder if their hospitals are ready for the possibility of a stream of patients requiring lifesaving care in an unprecedented time.

In Alpena, we’re ready — for now.

“Today, we have enough beds. We have enough ventilators,” said Chuck Sherwin, president of MidMichigan Medical Center-Alpena. “We want to stay calm. But, every day, we’re practicing, and we’re educating staff, and we’re looking at supplies, making sure we’re prepared when it does come.”

While no one from Alpena, Presque Isle, Montmorency, or Alcona counties have yet tested positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, Sherwin pointed to the 17 cases currently confirmed in Gaylord as evidence that many people in our area may have been exposed but aren’t yet aware of it.

With 139 beds, including those in its behavioral health and obstetrics units, MidMichigan Medical Center-Alpena has the capacity to double its average of 60 patients.

The hospital currently has fewer overall patients than usual, Sherwin said, its numbers down because non-urgent surgeries, testing, and other non-essential procedures are postponed.

To expand the hospital’s capacities, non-traditional areas — such as a pre-surgery area containing cots, stretchers, and medical equipment — have been approved by the state to hold patients, if necessary, Sherwin said.

Hospital administration has also worked with representatives of the Alpena County Emergency Management and the Combat Readiness Training Center to potentially expand care zones to locations outside the hospital, according to Sherwin.

RECRUITING STAFF

While the need for enough beds to hold a possible influx of patients is urgent, so is an adequate human staff to tend to a full hospital.

The hospital is recruiting retired staff and medically trained first responders to prepare for a possible surge in patients. Some residents have already expressed willingness to fill both paid and volunteer medical positions.

The present medical staff is adequate to meet current needs, Sherwin said, but, in the event of a rapid increase in patients, “you might have to do nursing differently.”

Currently, nurses are able to dedicate themselves to the full care of a handful of patients. If a rush of patients comes, medical personnel may have to oversee more patients, using support staff to assist.

With the coronavirus closing down much of the hospital’s outpatient services, physical therapists, X-ray techs, and many other staff members are now unable to work but ready to be tapped “when the surge comes.”

SEEKING EQUIPMENT

The Alpena hospital’s store of ventilators is adequate, for now, Sherwin said.

Anesthesiologists at the hospital have confirmed multiple patients can use one ventilator if the need arises.

“Hopefully, we don’t have to get there,” Sherwin said.

The hospital has enough personal protective equipment — gowns, masks, and eye protection — to treat current patients, Sherwin said, but “we all know that, if this continues, and continues to escalate, supplies are going to get diminished.”

Following U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, MidMichigan is joining hospitals statewide in conserving masks by allowing medical personnel to wear them for a full day, until they are no longer effective.

“Clearly, in a crisis situation — which we’re all in — you modify practices a little bit,” Sherwin said.

It’s possible for masks, like surgical equipment, to be sterilized for reuse, and the hospital is working to make it possible to do so, Sherwin said.

At least 32 people in the area are sewing masks for the Alpena hospital, said Sherwin, who lauded the community for its supportive efforts, which include donations from businesses.

Veterinarians and dentists, kept from all but emergency procedures per state’s orders, may have masks they won’t use for some time, Sherwin said, and are encouraged to send those to the hospital.

STAY HOME

“Other things people can do? Literally, stay home as much as possible,” Sherwin said.

To keep the hospital from being inundated with patients, if and when COVID-19 is detected in the Alpena region, people with symptoms are asked to refrain from heading straight to the emergency room.

A “telehub” established by the hospital offers a phone number to residents with possible COVID-19 symptoms. Callers are taken through a screening process to determine if a test is called for.

A drive-through site is available for those shown through the assessment to need a test.

For those who have been exposed to the coronavirus, staying home allows their bodies time to build up antibodies, much as if they had received a vaccine dose, Sherwin said.

Hospital staff currently make 300 to 500 patient visits a day through videoconferencing, Sherwin said. He underscored the importance of keeping up those visits to prevent people from getting increasingly ill as they shelter at home.

“If you continue to progressively get sicker and sicker and sicker — which some people will from this virus — make sure you’re calling your doctor and calling the emergency department,” Sherwin said. “We don’t want you just showing up because then you’re cross-contaminating. That’s how it’s going to spread.”

Hospital administration has daily conversations with Alpena County Emergency Services Director Mark Hall and regular communication with Alpena County Commissioners Chairman Bob Adrian and Alpena Mayor Matt Waligora.

U.S. Rep. Jack Bergman, R-Watersmeet, state Rep. Sue Allor, R-Wolverine, and state Sen. Jim Stamas, R-Midland, have been given regular updates on the hospital’s status, Sherwin said.

“We’re all working together to try to make sure that we all understand where we’re at, how we’re doing, and how we can support each other,” Sherwin said.

Help, get help

∫ To ask about COVID-19 and request an assessment, call 888-591-0500.

∫ To donate masks and supplies to the hospital, email COVID19.SUPPLIES@midmichigan.org. Supplies needed include disposable face masks, hand-sewn cloth face masks, disposable clear face shields, and clear safety glasses and goggles.

∫ To financially support critical services statewide, visit michigan.gov/fightcovid19 and click “donations.”

∫ Go to this story at TheAlpenaNews.com to see a pattern for making a face mask.

Fask Mask Guide by Justin Hinkley on Scribd