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Critically ill patients in the state this week outnumbered the total number of staffed ICU beds available, with a major surge in south Alabama pushing hospitals to their limits. The Alabama Department of Public Health confirmed this week it requested federal aid, with at least one rural Alabama hospital requesting FEMA staff to help run patient units.

“Our hospital is packed. Our ICU beds have been full for two weeks at least,” said Douglas Brewer, CEO at Whitfield Regional Hospital in rural Demopolis, Alabama.

Whitfield this week requested staffing help from FEMA to run an eight-bed “step down” unit that is currently open but unable to be used as the hospital’s staff is stretched beyond capacity.

“As fast as we empty one bed, we have another patient come from another hospital to fill it,” Whitfield said. “It’s a devastating time right now. I think most hospitals will tell you we’re seeing it get worse by the hour right now. Not just in the need of beds but how sick the patients are. This is really hard because these are younger patients. Not that it’s easy to see older patients, but when you see a (young patient) who just had a baby on a ventilator, it tends to sober you pretty quickly.”

‘We’re in a place we’ve not been before’:Alabama’s ICUs filled as COVID-19 surge continues

ADPH this week confirmed it submitted two requests to FEMA for intravenous therapy teams and resources, in addition to federal staff. Assessments have also been made at eight hospitals for Disaster Medical Assistance Teams, which are comprehensive medical units that can be deployed quickly during a disaster or other large scale event. DMAT teams are currently in use in Mississippi, where at least one major hospital has been forced to set up field units in a parking garage to handle an onslaught of COVID-19 patients.

ADPH declined to provide additional information on Wednesday about where Alabama might be considering deploying federal aid in the state. FEMA directed The Montgomery Advertiser’s questions back to the state. State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris said late Thursday he expects to release further details in the coming days.

Alabama Hospital Association Director Dr. Don Williamson earlier this week said federal resources have been considered for the state’s monoclonal antibody infusion centers to free up staff for local hospitals.

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