Decatur Morgan Hospital Expands Amid Increase In Patients

Turn our attention to the coronavirus pandemic.

Decatur-morgan hospital is preparing a new coronavirus unit and working to get a new i-c-u facility.

Right now, the hospital has 34 coronavirus in-patients.

That's the largest number the hospital has seen since july...and leaders anticipate the numbers will go up.

Waay 31's casey albritton learned how hospital leaders are getting prepared for the increase.

Kelli powers/ president "there are a lot of patients the nurse and staff work with that they know that the outcomes may not be good, so it's just devastating to the staff."

President of decatur morgan hospital, kelli powers says lately, she's seen an increase in coronavirus patients.

Kelli powers/ president "before covid started, we had not seen our icu this full."

But now-- kelli powers/ president "we only have one bed available in our icu here at decatur."

With a total of 18 people in the i- c-u, five because of covid-19, the hospital is having to make some adjustments.

Powers says a new coronavirus unit located at the parkway campus will be ready to open at the end of november.

Kelli powers/ president "a lot of people we have hired have to work out notices at other places and be trained."

And when it comes to hiring--a nation-wide nurse shortage is making that difficult.

Kelli powers/ president "we've actually had to go out and offer a higher rate of pay to these nurses to get them for a two-year commitment."

The parkway clinic will add up to 36 beds for covid-19 patients.

But 12 icu beds could also be available in a new icu facility.

Kelli powers/ president "construction would take us three or four months and we would have to hire more nurses for that."

Powers says the hospital just applied for 4.5 millipn dollars from fema to pay for the new i-c- u... and if approved, she hopes it helps both patients and staff.

Kelli powers/ president "the staff, they are tired.

They are really tired because this has been going on a long time."

In huntsville, casey albritton, waay 31 news.

Powers says the hospital is expecting to hear back from fema in the next few weeks-- the covid-19 clinic and the new i-c-u facility will create 100 new