YRMC protects the people who protect the patients

Hospital provides insight into preserving its nurses during this difficult time

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - Fatigue has become a real concern for hospitals across the country since the beginning of the coronavirus outbreak. Now Yuma Regional Medical Center (YRMC) is giving CBS 13's Cody Lee insight into how it protects the people who protect its patients.

When the pandemic first started, YRMC created a nursing command center to monitor its workforce daily. The goal was not only to make sure the hospital's COVID units were staffed, but to also make sure the nurses weren't getting overwhelmed. A tier structure helps accomplish that.

"What the tiers do is it look at the staffing over the course of the next four hours and 24 hours also look to days out," said YRMC's Machele Headington.

Patients in coronavirus intensive care tend to stay longer, and require more hands-on care. The good news is, the numbers are finally starting to level out.

Tonight on 13 On Your Side at 10, Cody Lee takes a closer look at how the tier structure help both nurses and patients inside the coronavirus units.