KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — Hospitals are preparing for a tide of new COVID-19 cases that could stress all of their available resources.
One item needed for the essential care of patients with the virus is more hospital beds. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services recently approved plans by two Kalamazoo hospitals to increase the allotted number of beds at their facilities.
Bronson Methodist Hospital has been authorized to add 300 beds for patients, boosting their total amount to 734.
State regulators approved Ascension Borgess’s request for an additional 105 beds. A hospital spokesperson told MLive that would bring the number available to 529.
Ascension Borgess has declined to name how many patients are being treated for COVID-19, but Bronson Methodist has reported that 13 patients are being cared for. Earlier this week the hospital announced that three patients had died due to complications from COVID-19.
Each hospital, clinic, or treatment center in Michigan must be licensed for a certain number of beds available to patients. Healthcare providers must first file a Certificate of Need (CON) to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services before expanding the number of beds, opening new centers, or acquiring an existing facility.
The Certificate of Need program is administered by a governor-appointed commission that reviews and authorizes all requests related to the needs of healthcare services.
MDHHS has approved requests by hospitals across the state to add to their bed inventory and expand NICU units into other departments. That comes as Governor Gretchen Whitmer has called for healthcare providers to expand their capabilities.
Both Bronson Methodist and Ascension Borgess have not been overwhelmed by COVID-19 cases so far, but the increased number of beds is a precaution if the Kalamazoo area does see a surge in critical cases.
