TMC to exceed 5,000 COVID-19 vaccinations on Dec. 23 (Source: WTVM) By KOLD News 13 Staff | December 23, 2020 at 11:08 AM MST - Updated December 23 at 11:08 AM
TUCSON, Ariz. (KOLD News 13) - Nearly 5,000 Tucson health care professionals have been vaccinated for COVID-19 at Tucson Medical Center in less than a week.
TMC opened its two vaccination clinics – one for TMC staff and providers, and one for community health care workers last Thursday.
“It has been an historic week for TMC, Pima County and our country, as health care workers have stepped up, bared their arms and received the vaccine,” said Judy Rich, president and CEO of TMC HealthCare. “As our community continues to face a critical public health crisis, there is finally a glimmer of light at the end of this very long dark tunnel.”
The goal since the pandemic started last March has been to keep hospitals from reaching capacity, but weâre past that now: Pima Countyâs hospitals are full and COVID-19 case counts keep reaching record highs.
âWeâve been talking about when the time would come when we are overwhelmed,â said Dr. Shannon Thorn, a Tucson infectious-disease specialist, âand we have reached that time.â
Thorn, who provides help at several local hospitals, said the number of available staffed hospital beds fluctuates depending on patients being discharged, transferred or dying.
On Wednesday night, one ICU bed became open. It filled immediately.
The current delay of elective surgeries is causing hardships for patients who depend on them. “A lot of time when people talk about elective surgeries, it sounds like it is a facelift or something that is purely cosmetic in nature. These are not cosmetic procedures that we re talking about. These are life-saving procedures. This is cardiac interventions and other types of surgeries that have real-world implications for those individuals who are having to postpone it,” Garcia said. “I want you to understand that s what we mean when we re saying that we are at a breaking point. Our healthcare partners are having to make very, very tough choices.”
Healthcare leaders send letter to public, urging masks, social distancing
County plea to public By Megan McNeil | December 11, 2020 at 6:58 PM MST - Updated December 11 at 6:58 PM
TUCSON, Ariz. (KOLD News 13)- Friday, health care providers and emergency responders across Pima County are coming together to urge the public to take COVID-19 precautions before the healthcare system becomes overwhelmed.
In a letter that starts, “To the people of Pima County,” officials from multiple hospitals, fire districts and the county are begging the community to mask up, keep distance and avoid large gatherings. The group addressed the letter at a news conference Friday.
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