Statewide Iowa — Iowa hospitals and their employees face a number of challenges as they take care of an increasing number of patients with COVID-19. Dr. Toyosi Olutade, Chief Medical Officer for UnityPoint Health Trinity, says people put off routine health care last year, and now the system is struggling to deal with pent-up demand.
Even large health care organizations in the region are shuffling patients and beds in an attempt to meet demand.
The doctor says he wishes he could say employees are doing very well, but in reality, they’re just plain tired. Olutade says everyone who works at the hospital is stressed out. Not just doctors and nurses, but also secretaries, clerks, lab and x-ray technicians, therapists, housekeepers, food service workers, and maintenance personnel.
UnityPoint Health operates hospitals in Sioux City, Des Moines, and nine other Iowa cities — as well as hospitals in cities in Illinois and Wisconsin.
