KNOWING WHAT EACH NEW DAY WILL
BRING.
THIS IS ONE OF THE COUNTRY’S
BUSIEST HOSPITALS.
L.A. COUNTY USC MEDICAL CENTER.
NOW TREATING THE POOREST AND
SICKEST IN ALL OF LOS ANGELES.
WHERE HOSPITALIZATIONS AND
DEATHS SKYROCKETED IN JULY.
>> THAT IS A HUGE TOLL TO TAKE
EVERY DAY.
KNOWING THAT YOU’RE THE ONLY
PERSON OR MAYBE THE LAST PERSON
WHO SPEAKS TO THEM.
>> Reporter: AND IT’S A TOLL
THAT PUSHED THIS HOSPITAL AND
ITS WORKERS TO THE BRINK.
>> WE NEED TO TELL THE HUMAN
STORY, TELL THE STORY OF OUR
PATIENTS, TELL THE STORY OF OUR
EXHAUSTED STAFF WHO ARE RUNNING
TOWARDS THE DANGER.
>> Reporter: DR. BRAD SPELLBERG
IS THE CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER
HERE.
ON THE FRONT LINES EVERY DAY
WITH HIS ARMY OF DEDICATED
PHYSICIANS AND NURSES.
>> ONE OPEN BED.
>> Reporter: TRYING TO HELP THE
SICKEST PATIENTS SURVIVE AND
RISKING THEIR OWN LIVES TO DO
IT.
>> IT IS SUPER STRESSFUL TO HAVE
TO PUT ON THE LAYERS OF
PROTECTION AND WALK INTO THE
DANGER ZONE DAY AFTER DAY AFTER
DAY.
IT’S NOT A MARATHON.
IT’S NOT A SPRINT.
IT’S BOTH.
>> Reporter: THEIR EMERGENCY
ROOM REACHING CAPACITY A FEW
WEEKS AGO AFTER CALIFORNIA BEGAN
TO REOPEN.
THEIR ICU OVERWHELMED WITH
CRITICAL PATIENTS.
>> THEY CANNOT OXYGENATE.
NO MATTER WHAT THEY DO OR WHAT
POSITION THEY GET IN.
SO YOU’RE BASICALLY WATCHING
SOMEONE SUFFOCATE.
>> Reporter: NOW AFTER NEARLY
THREE MONTHS OF SURGING CASES,
THE NUMBERS ARE STABILIZING.
BUT THE EMOTIONAL DRAIN IS STILL
HIGH.
>> I HAVE KIDS AT HOME AND I
HAVE AN ELDERLY MOTHER WHO TAKES
CARE OF MY KIDS.
SO TAKING CARE OF THESE PATIENTS
AND THEN WORRYING ABOUT GOING TO
SPREAD THE VIRUS HOME TO MY KIDS
AND MY PARENTS.
>> Reporter: AND WITH THIS VIRUS
BEING UNPREDICTABLE AND FLU
SEASON FAST APPROACHING, DOCTORS
FEAR ANOTHER CRISIS IS COMING.
HOW QUICKLY CAN THINGS GO BACK
TO THE WORST CASE SCENARIO?
HOW QUICKLY THAT CAN PENDULUM
SWING?
>> WELL, AT PEAK WE WERE GETTING
25 NEW POSITIVE PATIENTS PER
DAY.
AND IF YOU GIVE ME 25 TO 30 NEW
POSITIVE PATIENTS PER DAY AND
HALF OF THEM END UP IN THE ICU,
WITHIN A WEEK WE’RE IN SERIOUS
TROUBLE.
>> Reporter: STILL THERE ARE
MANY PEOPLE WHO DOUBT THE
SEVERITY OF THE PANDEMIC.
SOMETHING THESE DOCTORS FIND HARD TO UNDERSTAND.
HARD TO UNDERSTAND.
>> WE HAVE SEEN SOME OF THE
CRITICISM ABOUT WHAT SOME PEOPLE
CALL A PLAN-DEMIC OR THE VIRUS
DOESN’T KILL PEOPLE, IT’S NOT
REAL, IT’S BEING BLOWN OUT OF
PROPORTION BY THE MEDIA, BY EVEN
HEALTH OFFICIALS.
WHAT’S YOUR RESPONSE TO THAT?
>> COME INTO MY ICU.
COME WATCH.
PATIENTS AND FAMILIES ARE BEING
CRUSHED.
WHAT WE’RE SEEING IS THE WORKING
POOR GETTING WIPED OUT.
WE’RE REALLY ASKING FOR THE
PUBLIC’S HELP.
PLEASE HELP KEEP THE SITUATION
UNDER CONTROL SO WE DON’T RUN
OUT OF HOSPITAL BEDS, SO OUR
STAFF DON’T ALL GET SICK.
THANK YOU, GUYS.
KEEP IT UP.
>> OH, MY GOSH.
THAT DOCTOR.
THAT WAS AN AMAZING LOOK,
MIGUEL.
YOU MENTIONED HOW THEIR
EMERGENCY ROOM REACHED CAPACITY
OR IS CLOSE TO IT.
SO WHAT’S THE PLAN IF THEY DO
RUN OUT OF SPACE?
HOW DO THEY TREAT ANYBODY NEW?
>> Reporter: WELL, HODA, DOCTORS
ARE FAIRLY CONFIDENT THEY CAN
CREATE NEW ICU SPACE.
THEY CAN TURN BEDS IN OTHER
PLACES THEY NEED TO PUT
PATIENTS.
WHAT THEY’RE CONCERNED ABOUT IS
RUNNING OUT OF STAFF THAT’S
QUALIFIED TO CARE FOR THESE
PATIENTS.
THERE’S ONLY A FINITE NUMBER OF
DOCTORS ON THE THE FRONT LINES.