Sheldon, Iowa — The latest figures show only 70 people were hospitalized Tuesday in Iowa for treatment of COVID-19, down significantly from the peak in January of nearly a thousand patients. The CDC says death rates, too, are slowing dramatically. But, medical facilities seem to be feeling a lasting impact.
Rick Nordahl, CEO of Sanford Sheldon Medical Center in Sheldon, says even after two years, coronavirus is still making an impact on the facility, especially as it relates to staffing.
He says people have made decisions about employment.
He says some people left healthcare due to burnout. Some retired early. Some found other employment. He says when you have a small staff, every loss is a great loss.
Nordahl tells us they are still seeing some impact in other areas besides staffing, but the impact is more minor in other areas.
He says that they have been utilizing technology more to help with patient separation and staffing issues.
Nordahl says they’re also seeing some pushback from some of their patients.
Nordahl tells us there are two ways to have a virtual visit. You can go through the sanfordhealth.org website and be connected to an acute care doctor from the Sioux Falls region, or you can use the Sanford MyChart app, and you can actually be connected with your own provider that you’ve been seeing at Sanford Sheldon or any other Sanford facility. He says the visits have both video and audio capability.
