ICU capacity explained: What to know about a key coronavirus metric in California [Los Angeles Times]
Coronavirus cases are surging, hospitalizations are rising and public health officials are increasingly watching an important metric: intensive care unit capacity.
Here’s what you need to know about ICU capacity and why it’s important at this stage of the pandemic.
What is an ICU?An ICU, or intensive care unit, is a specialized hospital department that cares for people in the most critical health situations, such as those with life-threatening injuries or severe illnesses. ICUs are equipped with specialized equipment, such as ventilators.
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Coronavirus cases are surging, hospitalizations are rising and public health officials are increasingly watching an important metric: intensive care unit capacity.
The
new stay-at-home order that hit 36 million Californians recently was triggered when several regions’ ICU availability slipped under 15%.
Public health officials fear that as the surge continues, hospitals could be overwhelmed including the most vulnerable patients in the hospitals’ highest level care units. Staying home and preventing coronavirus infections will help hospitals manage the influx of patients. As officials wait and hope for the stay-at-home order to tame the surge, they are anxiously tracking ICU capacity.
Here’s what you need to know about ICU capacity and why it’s important at this stage of the pandemic.