Omicron surge is undermining care for other health problems

[turbinetree]

By BEN FINLEY and KATE BRUMBACK
an hour ago

Roger Strukhoff was being treated for intestinal bleeding at a hospital outside Chicago this month when he suffered a mild heart attack.

Normally, the 67-year-old would have been sent to the intensive care unit. But Strukhoff said it was overrun with COVID-19 patients, and the staff instead had to wheel a heart monitor into his room and quickly administer nitroglycerin and morphine.

“A doctor I know pretty well said, ‘Roger, we’re going to have to improvise right here,’” said Strukhoff, who lives in DeKalb, Illinois.

https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-business-chicago-illinois-e8727a5e7b1df775d692877e94f8cb73