Nurse staffing levels up and Covid-19 case numbers are down at Essentia Health in Fargo

(Fargo, ND) -- The news is relatively good when it comes to nurse staffing levels at Essentia Health in Fargo. 

"I would say it's probably more in the 90 to 95 percent. I don't have the exact statistics but we are almost back to where we were pre-covid. But our volumes have been higher. So typically we had opened bed positions and now on a day-to-day basis we are running right up against our capacity," said the hospital's Chief Medical Officer Dr. Richard Vetter, while giving an exclusive update on Essentia's current operations. 

Vetter also says he views Covid-19 now as being in the "endemic" phase, and says the hospital is now treating far fewer patients testing positive for the virus. He also says the number of vaccinations daily at the hospital is now down to roughly 300, compared to the once daily high of 3,000 shots being administered. Vetter also says long waits for elective surgeries are no longer occurring.

Original Air Date: 
Tuesday, September 20, 2022