Health

M Health Fairview: Containment key to preserve hospital beds, equipment

Samples are tested for COVID-19.
Samples are tested for COVID-19 Tuesday, March 3, 2020, at the Minnesota Department of Health.
Courtesy of Minnesota Department of Health

A critical concern as COVID-19 spreads here in Minnesota is whether our healthcare system is prepared. M Health Fairview, which operates dozens of hospitals and clinics across the state, will be among those tested by the virus. Associate Chief Nurse Executive Linda Wick is leading that system’s response. She spoke with MPR News host Cathy Wurzer Friday morning.

Wick emphasized containment efforts as critical to hospital preparedness. “Having a few people get sick everyday — versus 20 a day for day after day — is really going to make a difference in how our healthcare systems are able to manage,” she said.