Doctor speaks up about the plight of health care workers as COVID cases surge

Go Deeper.
Create an account or log in to save stories.
Like this?
Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.
Minnesota has one of the highest rates of COVID-19 infections in the country right now. There are very, very few ICU beds available in the state. Hospitals are delaying surgeries — shoulder surgeries, knee surgeries and even some heart procedures — because of the number of COVID-19 patients taking up beds.
Health care workers are becoming more vocal about their plight. Last Friday, Dr. Brian Hartz took to Facebook to make an impassioned plea on their behalf.
“[T]he hospital needs all of [us], all the time now — that is not something we can do forever,” he wrote.
Hartz is a pulmonologist and critical care physician at Respiratory Consultants and North Memorial Health in Robbinsdale. He told host Cathy Wurzer more about what he and his colleagues are facing.
Hartz said some health care workers are feeling “despondent” and “hopeless,” and he warned listeners about the dangers of severe cases of COVID-19.
Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.
Subscribe to the Minnesota Now podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
Turn Up Your Support
MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding. Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all.