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Originally Posted by DJ's left nut
Then your discussion becomes the definition of 'capacity', then. And the supply issue doesn't seem to be working itself out anyway, despite the fact that we seem to have a lot of PPE in various places that we simply aren't getting to the places that need it. Time doesn't seem likely to solve that (as a nationwide lockdown instead of an organic spread has anyplace that HAS spare equipment holding onto it like grim death).
Moreover, we have little evidence yet that medical providers are being hit inordinately hard right now due to a lack of PPE. The situation on the ground appears to be that things aren't ideal, but they also aren't critical. Yes, some healthcare providers are contracting it, but compare their rates to transit workers or retail workers and they're not out of line (especially when compared to the rates of exposure).
They're pushing equipment right to the edge of its functional envelope, but the results thus far aren't that they're not being protected at all because of that. They're using every inch of runway in most cases, but there's still little indication that planes are driving off the edge. If outcomes have been worse because of these shortages, it's a damn small amount. Which again gets back to the definition of capacity - isn't that consideration baked into the cake already?
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The models of bed capacity are based upon occupancy only. Bed capacity isn't functional capacity where people are receiving adequate care. Hospitals also plan for surge scenarios (mass casualty incidents, etc.) to ensure that there is always true flex built into the system to sustain such events.
Regarding healthcare workers: 14 percent of those infected in Spain as of last week were healthcare professionals, around 3000 of the reported cases in China were in healthcare, and at least 200 in NYC were sick (from a NYT article on 3/30). That's a lot of infections, and moving it up to true 100% capacity would have made only increased the probability of additional infections further.
Also, if you put less innate strain on the system, you give the suppliers more time to replenish: PPE, pharmaceuticals, etc.