CHEO video shows staff efforts to keep PICU open to 'life and limb' patients | CTV News

CHEO is giving the public an unprecedented look at how it is managing high patient volumes and staffing challenges this fall to keep its pediatric intensive care unit open to “life and limb” patients. “I’m desperate for staff tonight,” Clinical Operations Manager, Nights – Kerri-Lynne White says in a video released by CHEO, showing how the hospital is juggling staff. “I’m willing to wheel and deal.” The children’s hospital is at 124 per cent occupancy in its inpatient medical units, where the bulk of emergency admissions are transferred, and “all budgeted beds are full”, according to the hospital. CHEO says on many nights over the last few weeks, more than a dozen patients were admitted nightly in the emergency department with no bed available in units. “Our intensive care unit has been in ‘life or limb’ status for much of the past two weeks,” CHEO said in a statement, adding all critical care units have been at or over capacity every day since Sept. 11. “And our emergency department, which yesterday alone saw 61 more patients than it was built for (211 patients vs. 150), is experiencing hours-long waits for care.” As CHEO announced a number of measures to address…
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