HomeMy WebLinkAbout03.27.20 Email from Danette York - Butte County Bed Estimate for COVID-19 Surge
From:York, Danette
To:Alpert, Bruce;Bennett, Robin;Clerk of the Board;Connelly, Bill;Cook, Holly;Lambert, Steve;Lucero, Debra;
McCracken, Shari;Ring, Brian;Ritter, Tami;Rodas, Amalia;Sweeney, Kathleen;Teeter, Doug;McCracken, Shari
Cc:Miller, Andrew
Subject:Bed estimate
Date:Saturday, March 28, 2020 10:05:55 AM
Dear Supervisors,
First, let me say thanks for your continued support and patience as we work through this pandemic.
Recently, we were asked if Public Health is doing any local modeling. This email is to provide you
with some very rough modeling numbers concerning how many hospital beds Butte County may
need during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic and to let you know we are working very closely
with our hospitals on surge planning.
Please understand that these modeling numbers are from a simple exercise using the State’s
modeling numbers and we do not have all the background information on what model they used to
get their numbers. The State has assured us that they will forward county specific numbers but we
cannot be sure if/when that will occur. The numbers can and WILL change based on modeling
techniques so do not be surprised if these numbers change in the future based on more
sophisticated modeling techniques. We used this simple technique only to get a rough estimate and
to start a planning conversation that takes us beyond the hospitals’ already established surge plans.
Below the table, I explain the numbers in the table:
ButteButte +
CAOnlysurrounding
Peak daily hospital
beds62099344440
Peak daily ICU beds19875110141
The numbers are for hospital beds needed for COVID-19 patients ONLY. This does not account for
the beds hospitals use on a daily basis for all other illnesses/injuries. Based on the simple modeling
technique explained above, IF our local hospitals only served Butte County residents we would need
344 regular daily hospital beds for COVID patients during the peak. Of those 344 hospital beds, we
would need 110 of them to be Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds. Of course, our hospitals do serve more
than just Butte County residents so that is why the second column “Butte + Surrounding” is in the
table. Assuming that practice continues during the peak of COVID-19 cases, we would need 440
regular daily hospital beds for COVID patients and of those, we would need 141 of them to be ICU
beds.
Again, we are working closely with our hospitals to plan for surge capacity. The hospitals do already
have a surge capacity plan. These simple modeling numbers will allow us to work with them and
their plans to determine if there is a need to search for more capacity. We fully expect there to be a
need to plan for more beds; there is more work to be done for sure but we wanted to update you on
what we are doing.
Please note again: these numbers are rough and will change. They are being used only to further
planning and preparedness efforts. I recommend that they not be shared widely at this time, but
share that planning and preparedness discussions are taking place among Public Health, Hospitals
and other Healthcare Providers. If you do decide to share the actual numbers, understand that will
generate more questions that we most likely will be unable to answer at this time. Thanks again for
your continued support!
Sincerely,
Danette York
Public Health Director
BUTTE COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH
202 Mira Loma Drive | Oroville, CA 95965
T:530.552.3820
COVID-19 Call Center: 530.552.3050 open 8 am – 5 pm everyday
“Nationally Accredited, 09/13/17”
FACEBOOK | TWITTER
COUNTY OF BUTTE E-MAIL DISCLAIMER: This e-mail and any attachment thereto may contain private, confidential, and privileged
material for the sole use of the intended recipient. Any review, copying, or distribution of this e-mail (or any attachments thereto) by
other than the County of Butte or the intended recipient is strictly prohibited. If you are NOT the intended recipient, please contact the
sender immediately and permanently delete the original and any copies of this e-mail and any attachments thereto.