Minnesota hospitals straining to keep up with COVID patients

As hospital admissions soared in Minnesota and death counts hit record highs, medical providers in the intensive care unit at Regions Hospital in St. Paul struggled to keep up. A total of 97 COVID-19 patients had been admitted to Regions as of Thursday, Nov. 19 
Photos by Leila Navidi
November 21, 2020 — 11:01pm

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COVID-19 patient Michael Wright has improved since Thursday, when he lay in his bed in the prone position to increase oxygenation while at Regions Hospital.

Star Tribune  |  November 21, 2020

Healthcare workers work together to reposition an intubated COVID-19 patient, who is on maximum ventilator settings and medicine, to the supine position to give them a break from being in the prone position in the ICU at Regions Hospital in St. Paul. From left is respiratory therapist Abu Kawo, Bethany Webb, RN, Ashley Burkett, RN, and Colton Lenz, RN.

Star Tribune  |  November 21, 2020

Bethany Webb, RN, checked on a COVID-19 patient in the ICU at Regions Hospital in St. Paul.

Star Tribune  |  November 21, 2020

COVID-19 patient Chue Moua lay in bed in a step down unit at Regions Hospital in St. Paul.

Star Tribune  |  November 21, 2020

A COVID-19 virus made from a pin cushion decorated the entrance of the ICU at Regions Hospital in St. Paul.

Star Tribune  |  November 21, 2020

Susan Ehman, left, RN, and Bethany Webb, RN, don PPE to go into a COVID-19 patient’s room in the ICU at Regions Hospital in St. Paul. The Cathedral of St. Paul is seen in the background.

Star Tribune  |  November 21, 2020

Cleaned masks for staff are in white paper bags in the ICU at Regions Hospital in St. Paul.

Star Tribune  |  November 21, 2020

Colton Lenz, RN, looked into his COVID-19 patient’s room in the ICU at Regions Hospital in St. Paul.

Star Tribune  |  November 21, 2020

An intubated COVID-19 patient in the ICU at Regions Hospital in St. Paul.

Star Tribune  |  November 21, 2020

Nurse manager Amy Parker, RN, helped fellow nurse manager Nkeiru Adoga, RN, into PPE to visit a COVID-19 patient in a step down unit at Regions Hospital in St. Paul.

Star Tribune  |  November 21, 2020

COVID-19 patient Chue Moua lay in bed in a step down unit at Regions Hospital in St. Paul.

Star Tribune  |  November 21, 2020

Patient comfort tips are written on the glass door of a COVID-19 patient’s room in the ICU at Regions Hospital in St. Paul.

Star Tribune  |  November 21, 2020

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