Inland empire hospitals at the breaking point in increasing COVID-19 cases

Barstow, California. (KABC) – With the increase in Covid-19 cases in Southern California, hospitals are experiencing pain in a variety of ways. In the Inland Empire, as nurses from one hospital prepare to go on strike, another hospital doubles its capacity.

A nurse who spoke on condition of anonymity told iWitness News that the situation at Bursto Community Hospital was dire, with many nurses suffering from covid-1 and many others recovering physically and emotionally.

“It’s bad. We’re completely submerged and about to collapse. We need more help and we’re not getting it.”

Barstow Community Hospital has a 30-bed facility. But interim CEO Suzanne Richards told iWitness News that the hospital is currently treating 54 patients, including CO 47 Covid-1. Its ICU is treating 16 patients, but has only four regular beds.

Inland Counties Emergency Medical Agency is prioritizing requests from employees placed in the California Department of Public Health, and Bursto Community Hospital is currently their top priority. They have provided the hospital with at least eight additional ventilators.

Meanwhile, nurses with CIU 121 RN have called for a 10-day strike at Los Robles Regional Medical Center, Thousand Oaks, West Hills Hospital and Medical Center in Los Angeles and Riverside Community Hospital in Riverside.

“Nurses are stretched thin,” said nurse April Scolari, who has worked at Riverside Community Hospital for five years. “We don’t have enough staff to keep us out of the ratio; we don’t have enough staff to allow us to relax, or we have the things we need as nurses because our mental health and fatigue are already taking a toll.”

Nurses have cited a lack of proper personal protective equipment as one of the main reasons for the strike, which is set to begin on December 24.

HCA Healthcare, which operates three hospitals where the strike is planned, said the strike would increase demand for already-deficient health care in Southern California.

“Given the growth of the current Covid-1 surge and the shortage of national nursing, the union will urge nurses to leave the bedside and sacrifice wages from many lost shifts,” HCA Healthcare spokesman Antonio Castella said. “It is also surprising that SEIU 121 RN will take action that could put patients at risk, a decision that should be avoided by their own constitution and every effort made by the state.”