Patient with COVID dies waiting for ICU bed in Roseburg

A patient with COVID-19 died on Wednesday while waiting for an intensive care unit bed at Mercy Health Hospital in Roseburg.

The medical center said the patient was in its emergency department and the ICU was full with other COVID-19 patients. Hospital officials had expanded the ICU to other floors but were unable to find space for the patient.

“Our concern is that more people are entering the hospital than leaving the hospital,” Dr. Bob Dannenhoffer, Douglas County public health officer said. “And unfortunately, one of the most common ways people are leaving the hospital is to die. We had four deaths today. Which freed up four beds but that is not the way we want to make space in the hospital.”

The medical center last week announced it was canceling elective surgeries because of the surge in COVID-19 patients.