Rural Hospitals Are Not Prepared to Protect Seniors From a Surge in COVID-19 Cases

A study in Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine determined that hospitals in the rural United States are ill-prepared to deal with a sudden influx of COVID-19 cases among older adults, reports Docwire News . The researchers assessed the number of intensive care unit (ICU) beds in 10 predominantly rural states with the highest older adult populations. Although 19 percent of the American population lives in rural counties, these counties contain only 1 percent of all ICU beds in the country. Counties especially vulnerable to inadequate ICU capacity include Crittenden, Ark.; Cass, Minn.; and Sagadahoc, Maine. Proposed solutions include building new delivery systems, reopening previously closed rural hospitals, and urging local businesses to stock medical supplies.