For Immediate Release

August 19, 2021

Dear Douglas County Citizens,

Today, we are asking our citizens for their help, patience and kindness, as our community and local hospital continue to reel from the extraordinary onslaught of new cases and hospitalizations this devastating virus has caused.  Hospitals all over Oregon are nearing capacity, as facilities and employees are making swift, unprecedented decisions, adapting to new protocols and managing care with the resources they have available.  The recent surge of cases has clearly impacted our hospital in ways that are unimaginable.  We can never predict at what moment in a crisis you realize that we are human, and that we are doing the best we can, and that that, is all we can ask of one another.  Today is one of those days.  We received a very emotional recount and plea from the staff at CHI Mercy Health, about a tragic event that occurred yesterday at CHI Mercy Health.  The staff at Mercy felt it was important to share the sobering message with our community, and asked the Douglas County Board of Commissioners, Dr. Bob Dannenhoffer, our Douglas County Public Health Officer and Douglas Public Health Network to do so. 

            Message from CHI Mercy Health:

“This moment, we pause. 

A COVID positive patient was in our Emergency Department, within our four walls, waiting for an open Intensive Care Unit bed to receive life-saving care. 

It had been several hours because other COVID positive patients had filled those beds. 

Even after expanding ICU care onto other floors, there weren't any beds available for this patient. 

We didn't have enough.

This patient died in the Emergency Department waiting for an Intensive Care Unit bed. 

This is very real to our physicians, clinicians, housekeepers, and each member of our Mercy family. 

Today, we paused, we reset and we tried to move forward mentally and physically for our own well-being and serving our most vulnerable, sick patients within our four walls.  

We need your help, grace and kindness.”

- CHI Mercy Health Staff

This pandemic has impacted everyone’s life, some more than others, and some in ways you will never know.  The men and women who are on the front lines at our local hospitals and medical care facilities are dealing with the latter, every day, every hour and every minute.  They are living their purpose, and with that, they, as well as our community need to show them some grace, and give them permission to pause.  We encourage everyone to join us in practicing kindness and in supporting their efforts.  Let’s work together to do everything we can to stop the spread of this virus, so we can protect our community from continued and prolonged grief.

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Contact Tamara Howell, Douglas County Public Information Officer & Emergency Communications & Community Engagement Specialist | Phone: (541) 670-2804 | Cell: (541) 957-4896 | Email: tjhowell@co.douglas.or.us