DETROIT (WXYZ) — Attention is back on Detroit's Sinai-Grace Hospital after shocking photos went viral.
The photo shows deceased patients in body bags piled up in a sleep study room, giving Michiganders an idea of the reality inside the hospital.
7 Action News has spoken to nearly a dozen nurses in the last week, who say the hospital is short-staffed and lacks extension cords needed to plug in vital monitors. In a statement, the hospital says it has recently hired 38 nurses and "continue to bring in additional nursing resources to help us care for patients as volumes have increased as a result of COVID-19."
The hospital says the coronavirus has caused a "greater than normal mortality rate in the Detroit community" and that patients in their care are treated with respect.
Read Sinai-Grace Hospital's full statement below:
“The COVID-19 virus has caused significantly greater than normal mortality rates in the Detroit community. This has resulted in capacity issues at funeral homes and morgues outside of Sinai Grace Hospital. Patients who pass away at our hospital are treated with respect and dignity, remaining on-site until they can be appropriately released. Like hospitals in New York and elsewhere, we have secured additional resources such as mobile refrigeration units to help temporarily manage the capacity issue caused by COVID-19."
"Sinai-Grace sees more EMS traffic than any other hospital in metro Detroit and is the only hospital in Northwest Detroit. In addition, there are a large number of nursing homes in the area surrounding the hospital. Among the patient population served by Sinai-Grace, there are extremely high rates of underlying medical conditions such hypertension and diabetes, which puts people at higher risk for COVID-19. Sinai-Grace Hospital remains dedicated to its mission of providing quality compassionate care to the Detroit community.”
"As for staffing at the DMC, we continue to bring in additional nursing resources to help us care for patients as volumes have increased as a result of COVID-19. We have recently hired 38 nurses and have used a variety of resources to help to supplement nursing staff including contracting with staffing agencies."
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