Calgary hospitals asked to be careful with oxygen supplies
Posted Nov 30, 2020 1:03 pm.
Last Updated Dec 1, 2020 9:13 am.
CALGARY (660 NEWS) – As more patients with COVID-19 are admitted to hospitals around Alberta, oxygen supplies are reportedly becoming a concern in Calgary.
According to a memo sent out by Alberta Health Services (AHS), there is expected to be an even heavier strain on resources in the coming days and weeks, so health care workers are being advised to watch out for how much oxygen they are giving out.
We are also being asked to be attentive to our use of oxygen given the current demands. I’ve never had this happen in all my years of practice. Apparently limited ability to provide sufficient oxygen is why RGH ICU capacity can’t expand like others in the city. pic.twitter.com/uNWZNCknSe
— Miriam Berchuk MD (@MiriamBerchuk) November 30, 2020
The memo states that the oxygen systems at acute care sites in Calgary may not be able to meet the demand if nothing changes.
Starting immediately, doctors and nurses are advised to use their oxygen more sparingly and “target the lowest tolerable” oxygen saturation levels.
AHS said the centres most affected by the oxygen limitations are the Peter Lougheed, Foothills and Rockyview General Hospital.
In a statement issued on Tuesday afternoon, AHS says the memo was a reminder to staff and there is an adequate supply of oxygen in the Calgary zone to meet patient needs now and in the days ahead.
“The limitation is not the supply of oxygen itself, but instead the capacity of the pipes delivering oxygen from a centralized source. Infrastructure upgrades were started in the spring,” the statement reads.
“In the meantime, AHS is working with clinicians and service areas that routinely provide oxygen therapy to ensure appropriate use for patients that are recovering from illness in order to appropriately conserve oxygen resources.”
This comes as health care workers in Edmonton say ICU demand is so high, they’ve had to double up beds.
