Methodist in the Media

Doctors Urge People to Help Slow the Spread of COVID-19 as Capacity, Staff Stretched Thin

Published: Nov. 13, 2020

Mayor Jean Stothert and Douglas County Health Director Adi Pour held a news conference on COVID-19 Friday afternoon.

Representatives of Omaha hospitals and Omaha police were also present.

Bill Lydiatt, MD, vice president of medical affairs and chief medical officer for Methodist Hospital and Methodist Women's Hospital, said Methodist's current capacity is "adequate but stressed." He said there are "finely honed" surge plans being executed.

Dr. Lydiatt said he watches nurses, often young mothers, come in and out for 12-hour shifts treating people with COVID, being subjected to coughing and other things that expose them to COVID.

He said they tell him: "It's not fun, it's not easy, but it's what we're here for and we're gonna get through it."

KETV: Doctors urge people to help slow the spread of COVID-19 as capacity, staff stretched thin

Omaha World-Herald: Omaha experts warn hospitals could exceed capacity if COVID cases continue to climb