VIDEO: A new record broken on Friday as less than 10% of licensed ICU beds are available across Arizona. New data from the Arizona Department of Health Services shows that there are 156 licensed ICU beds in the state, but experts warn that does not necessarily mean staffed beds.
Earlier this week, the state requested medical workers from the federal government, and as of now, 62 medical professionals are on the ground in Pima and Yuma counties.
This includes personnel in emergency medicine like ER doctors, medics, and other needed technicians to help hospitals.
“Just having an empty bed is not good enough, unfortunately,” said Dr. Frank Lovecchio with ValleyWise Health.
Major General Michael McGuire said 90 more medical professionals will arrive this weekend and will be used in six different hospitals in Maricopa, Pima, Yuma, and Navajo counties.