DCH Coronavirus Update 11-12-20

Progress

Each person is unique and may respond differently to diseases, treatments and medications. That is part of what makes health care so difficult; what works for one may not for another.

This variability has generally held true for COVID-19 as well. We have the range from very sick all the way to asymptomatic. For those who have ended up very sick with COVID-19, the road to recovery has been difficult, and too many have lost that battle. That is why it is so encouraging to the families and staff when one with a severe case finally turns the corner.

Tracy Braggs has been at DCH fighting COVID-19 for 36 days. He was on a ventilator, but no one would give up on him.

“Mallory (one of his nurses) is my hero,” said Braggs. “She pushed me.”

Braggs also talked about the entire team and how their support and the encouragement of his family and friends made the difference for him. “I am a blessed man,” said Braggs. “I had so many help me, and I am so grateful for the support.”

Today the ICU staff gathered to cheer Braggs on as he DCH Regional Medical Center to go to a rehabilitation facility for a week.

“It’s been a real morale booster for the staff to see Mr. Tracy’s determination and progress,” said Allen Callaway, MICU 1 nurse manager. “We are excited for him to take this next step in his road to recovery.”

Testing and Confirmed Cases

To protect patient privacy, DCH has established a minimum threshold of five for reporting numbers of inpatients with laboratory-confirmed cases of COVID-19.

DCH internal counts as of 5:12 p.m. on 11/12/20:

• 68 inpatients are positive for COVID-19.
• 18 inpatients who are positive for COVID-19 are being treated in the ICU.
• 7 who are positive for COVID-19 are on ventilators.
• Five or fewer who are positive for COVID-19 are on a BiPAP.
• 4,002 (cumulative) unique positives for COVID-19 tests including results from the ED, triage tent and inpatient. These individuals are not necessarily in the hospital.
• 27,139 (cumulative) unique negatives for COVID-19 at DCH sites.
• 5,071 (cumulative) positive COVID-19 at DCH sites. These individuals are not necessarily in the hospital.
• 43,117 (cumulative) negative tests at DCH sites.
• 1,290 inpatients (cumulative) who were positive for COVID-19 have been discharged.
• 241 inpatients (cumulative) who were positive for COVID-19 have died at DCH. This is not an indication of the cause of death, only that the individuals were positive for COVID-19 at the time of death.
• 117 Tuscaloosa County residents (cumulative) who were positive for COVID-19 have died (per the Alabama Department of Public Health).