Doctors at UVA Health are encouraged by a downward trend of COVID hospitalizations. WMRA's Randi B. Hagi reports.
In a media briefing Friday morning, Dr. Reid Adams, UVA Health's chief medical officer, said they're down to 57 patients hospitalized for COVID – including 14 in the ICU and five children.
REID ADAMS: I think that people are feeling encouraged that we're seeing a downward trend, and hopefully we'll be out of this part of the surge and maybe get to endemic status of the – of what is now a pandemic.
He said the hospital would likely be making an announcement next week about changes to their visitation policy. Their staffing situation has also improved in recent weeks.
ADAMS: We continue to see staffing shortages across the spectrum, not just nursing, but all of the caregivers that support our patients that are not RNs or MDs. But it has been significantly better, over the past, I'd say, two months. We still require a lot of help from contract labor, so-called travelers, to help us care for our patients, but it's really allowed us to stay open, keep our beds open, our procedural areas, and take care of the patients that need us.
Part of that is thanks to fewer staff being out with the virus themselves lately.
