BEATRICE - Those on the front lines in the fight against the coronavirus and Covid-19 are not that much different than all of us, in at least one respect. They too, would like life to return to a more predictable pattern.


"They are amazingly working hard, a lot of the time working a little shorter than we normally have been, because we have been seeing a lot more patients....it's a lot busier."


Tasha Hesman, Chief Nursing Officer at Beatrice Community Hospital, says the hospital has been taking care to see that their staff members remain healthy and avoid Covid….so that it doesn’t spread within the hospital setting. Some staff members have tested positive for Covid-19…making mandated mask use even more critical. Hesman says the hospital and its staff have adapted to ongoing changes.


"Once we think we kind of got everthing figured out, something changes and we have to rethink it a little bit. When we went into this in March or April, we were just flying....kind of figuring out everything as we go. This time around, we've actually seen more patients and so we've gotten to work through some of our processes and learn from it, and change a few things just based on what's gone on in the community."


The Beatrice Community Hospital emergency room has seen a peak in COVID-19 cases in the past couple of weeks, including more patients who have been very ill and have been transferred to Lincoln in a partnership with Bryan Health. There have been more patients in the COVID wing of Beatrice Community Hospital, than in the first few months of the pandemic.


"We have a four-bed COVID wing and then we have a few additional negative air flow rooms that would allow us to take care of, I think, probably up to six or seven, comfortably...but again, that's challenging with staffing....being able to staff everywhere, so we look at it very closely. A lot of the time, we look at the ability to care for that patient critically. If there's a need for critical care, that usually will be sent up north."


The hospital communicates with Bryan Health through telemedicine to examine each patient case closely to decide where the best care can be given.
Although coronavirus fatigue may be settling in with area residents….Hesman says it is still as important as ever to do what you can, to protect yourself and others.


"If you don't have to go to somewhere....watch large groups...a lot of outbreaks happen with weddings, parties, functions with large groups where they are not able to maintain social distancing. And, a lot of times they don't wear masks. Those are the biggest pieces. Wear your mask, socially distance, hand washing....and try to avoid those big group populations, if you can."


Heading into flu season, health officials will screen for both influenza and COVID, because the symptoms can be similar. That’s a concern for hospitals, because it could tax a hospital’s capacity. Hesman says the goal is to keep patients within their community, though transfer to another facility is sometimes necessary.
Beatrice Community Hospital has returned to being closed to the general public, because of the recent increase in COVID-19 cases….and the need to keep both patients and staff as safe as possible.