Pediatric cases of RSV and flu have sent families crowding into ERs, as health systems struggle with staff shortages. In Michigan, only 9 out of more than 130 hospitals have a pediatric ICU.
Caitlyn Houston kisses her seven-week-old daughter, Parker, as they wait in the ER for a hospital bed to open up on Dec. 7 at Corewell Health Helen DeVos Children's Hospital in Grand Rapids, Michigan."There's so many kids in here that they have to take the ones that are really bad," Houston said.Caitlyn Houston kisses her seven-week-old daughter, Parker, as they wait in the ER for a hospital bed to open up on Dec.
Within hours of leaving the pediatrician though, Santi"was so much worse," she says."His fever was way too high. I couldn't get it down." She took him to the ER, where doctors told her Santi had RSV, and that his oxygen saturation levels were dangerously low. "I hate seeing him like this," Botello says, his hands in his sweatshirt pocket, his own eyes glued to his son. Eventually, Santi's heavy lids close, and he slips into a fitful sleep in the hospital crib. His mom rubs his back, shushing him softly.
At the Children's Hospital of Michigan in suburban Detroit, there's only enough staff to cover about 60% of the beds, according to chief medical officer Dr. Rudy Valentini. With 40% of beds unavailable, children who need to be admitted have to wait in the ER until a bed opens up.
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