Hospital employees in the Quad Cities are caring for dozens of COVID-19 patients.
Michelle O'Neill reports they're prepared to take care of many more.
Doug Cropper, President and CEO, says late last week, Genesis Health System was treating 36 patients with COVID-19.
Recently, that number has ranged from 30 to 40.
Projections now show the peak in Iowa will probably occur on April 27th (subject to change).
He says Genesis expects to treat 90 to 120 COVID-19 patients at the peak, but it has plans for up to 400 cases.
Bob Erickson, President and CEO of Unity Point Health - Trinity, says his system's numbers are very similar.
And both systems together could provide 160 ventilators by also using anesthesia and other machines throughout the community.
Genesis and Unity Point are retraining nurses and other health care professionals to work where ever they're needed.
For example nurses who usually work in surgery and recovery are filling the need for additional nurses in intensive care units.
In addition, anesthesiologists, nurse anesthetists, and others are ready to manage ventilators and other breathing machines.
You can listen to the entire teleconference featuring Cropper, Erickson, and county health department officials in the video.
