Future outlook: The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Manitoba’s healthcare system

Winnipeg-Hope is on the horizon of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine was given on Wednesday, with a total of 900 healthcare workers receiving the first of two doses by the weekend.

It will take until 2021 for more Manitoba to be vaccinated, but for the forefront, how the health care system is currently affected and what changes will change in the future. I’m watching what happens.

Red (COVID-19 positive) intensive care unit at Winnipeg’s Health Science Center on Tuesday, December 8, 2020. (MIKAELAMACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS)

“Expected to occur”

On October 30, 2020, Manitoba reported a record 480 new cases of COVID-19 at the time. Since that date, the total number of cases reported per day has not fallen below 100, with the highest number of cases reported per day on November 23, with 543 new cases reported.

Health officials say the high number of cases each day puts a strain on the system, which leads to care problems.

One of the problems that occurred throughout the pandemic was the occurrence of COVID-19 in hospitals. Several Winnipeg hospital units, including the Health Science Center (HSC), are addressing outbreaks within the unit.

Dr. John Enville, Medical Director of Infection Prevention and Management at HSC, said: It’s the reality of providing care in a pandemic. So we are prepared for many contingencies. “

Intensive care unit at Winnipeg’s Health Science Center on Tuesday, December 8, 2020. (MIKAELAMACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS)

Some contingencies involve transferring patients to a new unit, including the original women’s hospital, due to the presence of a private room there.

Despite the best efforts, Enville added, the outbreak still happens.

“Despite our best screening methods, patients will still be culturing bacteria when they come to the hospital,” he said. “We can screen them in a laboratory test (but) that test only gives you meaningful results, the moment the test is taken.”

“There is nothing more a hospital system can do.”

Dr. Bojan Panovic, HSC’s site director of critical care, said staff from four different hospitals manage 120 critical care beds and levels are not sustainable as cases continue to grow.

“The concern is to go beyond that, or to maintain what we are doing in the long run is not what we should expect,” said Paunovich. “We need to expect a reduction in the number of cases so that we can continue to provide the care we have provided.”

The operating room of the Empty Day Surgery Unit at the Health Science Center in Winnipeg on Tuesday, December 8, 2020. (MIKAELAMACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS)

Dr. Edward Buchel, HSC’s chief surgeon, has seen first-hand how high numbers of cases affect care in other parts of the state. The two state blockades have canceled non-essential surgery and will continue to be canceled as staff move to assist COVID-19 patients.

“There’s nothing more you can do with the hospital system,” he said. “We continue to transfer resources to keep people alive. The more they spread, the more people will be hospitalized and the surgery will be stopped. It’s a simple equation.”

Bushel said people need to give the health care system the opportunity to maintain itself in accordance with public health orders, which could increase surgery again in 2021.

“Don’t spread the disease, wear masks, interact with non-family members, or follow public health regulations,” he said. “They work. We know they work, they worked for the first time.

“We are tired. No one is following them now because they are tired. It will be essential for the next six months to follow these rules.”

Dr. Jazz Atwar, Deputy Deputy Secretary of State for Public Health in Manitoba, will answer the question at the COVID-19 briefing on December 16, 2020. (CTV News Photo Glenn Pismenny)

Preparing for the future

The COVID-19 pandemic was the first major global pandemic of the 21st century that struck Manitoba and will undoubtedly affect future healthcare plans.

However, it is not yet known what the impact will be.

Dr. Jazz Atwal, Deputy Public Health Deputy Officer of the State, said that every day of the pandemic is a public health learning process.

“At least for the last few generations, I think everything we do is new to everyone,” he said on December 16.

Atwal said he had time to look back, look back and identify care gaps on what the state could learn from the COVID-19 pandemic for future pandemics.

“But that’s a long way off, and frankly,” he said.

Lanette Siragusa, Chief Nursing Officer at Shared Health, said that even if the vaccine is approved, if COVID-19 persists, it will work on the process and plan.

“We will continue on our current path and work diligently to ensure that all processes and support are in place, so that I certainly don’t feel like us. You can continue.’We are still out of the forest with our hospitalization and ICU abilities.

“So for now it’s the status quo and we follow the numbers, follow the science and adjust as needed in the future.”

This is the final installment of CTV News’ three-part series Red Zone: The Forefront of the Manitoba COVID-19 Pandemic, detailing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the medical system in Manitoba. ..