| As of 4:52 Yesterday Afternoon, county reports indicate that 79.8% of Ventilators in our Area's three main hospitals are open and available for use. This is good news! |
For weeks now I have been closely watching the numbers of ventilators locally available at our area's hospitals---via numbers provided by staff and rolled up into a daily SITREP. What I will remain fixed upon is the number of ventilators locally and the percentage of these open and available for patient use. This is a data point I believe we need to watch very closely as I have stated and for the reasons expressed previously here, here, and here.
But just as of Yesterday afternoon, I have been told the entire report is not to be released. Commissioners still have access to the data via webeoc-- but the full report now sports a disclaimer on the top (that wasn't there before in previous versions) that says:
| "*FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY* |
| This document is confidential and exempt from Florida Public Records Law |
| Under Chapter 119.071(3) Fla. Stat." |
I've not been told this portion of the report is classified information-----it isn't and it shouldn't be. Heck---I'm the commissioner that demanded this information be gathered and included in the Board's SITREP daily---this information wasn't even being collected before I pushed for it!
During times of panic, folks need information and complete transparency in real time. This eases anxiety and fear and I believe the board has spoken on this and wants maximum transparency as we all work together to navigate this COVID-19 crisis.
As of late yesterday evening, according to yesterday's SITREP, we have 174 Ventilators available for patient use out of 218 total ventilators in our area's hospitals.
79.8% of our area's ventilators are available.
Additionally, we have 581 Beds available in these same area hospitals out of a total of 1334 total.
43.5% of our area's hospital beds are available.
No comments:
Post a Comment