Door County Medical Center Chief Medical Officer Dr. Jim Heise feels like the current increase of positive cases is a continuation of the first wave of the coronavirus pandemic. He echoed those sentiments during the Faces of COVID-19 media briefing organized by Advocate Aurora Health / Aurora BayCare Medical Center, Bellin Health Systems, and Prevea Health / HSHS St. Vincent and St. Mary’s Hospitals in collaboration with the health departments of Brown County, De Pere, and Oneida Nation on Wednesday. Heise says 85 percent of Door County’s positive cases have come since September 1st. A growing number of those cases are requiring hospitalizations. Currently about 45 percent of their 25 licensed beds at Door County Medical Center are filled with COVID-19 patients. While the physical layout of the building can allow them to be flexible with capacity, he adds they are meeting twice a day
Heise says the surge is making COVID-19 a public health risk and not just because of the cases themselves.
Door County Medical Center will take care of all patients going to their facility in need of treatment, but Heise points out they have had a very small number of patients get transferred to hospitals in the Fox Valley and even one to LaCrosse because facilities in Green Bay were full. He applauded the staff for doing what needed to be done to serve the community.