Butler Health System reported its first patient death to the coronavirus late Wednesday afternoon, as the number of suspected and confirmed cases continues to climb and the health care system braces for more in the coming weeks.

BHS spokeswoman Jana Panther said the death has been reported to the state Department of Health and expects the updated figures will appear on the state's website Thursday. Further details about the death were not immediately available.

16 hospitalized

On Tuesday, BHS also reported 16 patients were being treated at Butler Memorial Hospital in relation to COVID-19. Of the 16 inpatient cases, 14 are suspected of having the virus, two have confirmed results Five of them are being treated in the intensive care unit.

Additionally, five more people with confirmed cases of COVID-19 are recovering in their homes.

Panther said hospital staff expected an increase of patients exhibiting symptoms consistent with COVID-19.

“I'm sorry to report that we have had our first COVID-19 confirmed death at BMH,” Panther told The Eagle. “This has been reported to the PA Department of Health and will most likely show in the numbers on their website tomorrow.”

As of Wednesday's noon update on the Pennsylvania Department of Health website, neighboring Beaver County jumped to seven confirmed cases of COVID-19 from two on Tuesday, and Lawrence County reported its first case. Armstrong and Mercer counties remained at one and two confirmed cases, respectively. Allegheny County, Butler's largest neighbor to the south, has 88 confirmed cases and had two deaths due to the virus.

BHS also reported Clarion Hospital now has two patients who are suspected of having the virus and are being treated in its ICU, although those numbers are not reflected on the state website.

Through Tuesday, BHS has tested 566 people, including 384 at BMH's outdoor facility, while Clarion Hospital tested 85 people at its outdoor facility.

“BHS has activated surge capacity plans to care for all patients requiring hospitalization, including COVID-19 patients,” Panther said. “BHS continues to focus on patient and staff safety.”

1,127 confirmed cases in state

The first case of the coronavirus appeared in Pennsylvania nearly three weeks ago. The state now has 1,127 confirmed cases and 11 deaths.

As cases continue to come into hospitals across the state, the Pennsylvania Association of Staff Nurses and Allied Professionals produced report cards for 23 hospitals, including Butler Memorial Hospital and ACMH in Armstrong county. The association represents nurses and staff at both hospitals.

The report card listed the hospital's status in the categories of supplies, outdoor triage, isolation, limited access, staffing, absence policy and quarantine policy.

“Our hospital, I think, is ahead of the curve in terms of being prepared,” said Tammy May, who serves as the local union president for the 400 nurses and health care workers at the Butler Health System.

May said, so far, BHS has done well with staffing, and management has been tracking lost work time for staff members impacted by reduced hours due to the cancellation of nonessential services.

Increasing nursing numbers

Pennsylvania announced Monday the state was suspending some administrative requirements for nurses, which could help add to the workforce and address staff shortages in hospitals statewide.

These changes include extending license expiration dates and waiving associated fees during the coronavirus emergency.

The loosened restrictions also may allow some nursing school graduates to enter the workforce early and make it easier for retired nurses to re-enter the workforce.

BMH already has in place an outdoor triage center, isolation facilities and policies and visitation restrictions, which were in line with many of the other hospitals in the report.

Nurses and staff at hospitals statewide surveyed for the report shared a noted concern about the levels of available personal protection equipment and supplies.

May said BHS has enough supplies, but said the last thing anyone wants is a shortage.

“That's always in the back of all of our minds,” May said, adding how the hospital is accepting donations of supplies and equipment.

Panther said Tuesday that BHS has been reaching out to local businesses and organizations for donations of personal protection equipment, supplies and money to help cover costs brought on by the crisis. She said the regional health care system has supplies, but the hospital sought donations to keep its stocks healthy.

BC3 helping

Among those donating to the hospital's effort, Butler County Community College donated personal protective equipment to BHS, as well as Concordia Lutheran Ministries.

“Right now we don't have (face-to-face) classes, and we don't have nursing students who are using these lab supplies,” said Patty Annear, dean of BC3's Shaffer School of Nursing and Allied Health. “We felt it was necessary to put the equipment to good use and to keep it in the community.”

In addition to the nursing department, BC3 also donated equipment from its biology and chemistry departments.

While businesses are stepping up to help address equipment needs, May has been in regular communication with officials at the regional health care system with regards to sick time for its nurses and staff.

Two challenges facing the health care system in light of the pandemic, according to the statewide association, are absence policy changes tailored specifically for COVID-19 and a quarantine policy that forces hospital staff to use their paid time off if they come down with the sickness.

May said that at BMH, like a lot of hospitals, excessive sick time results in punishment under normal circumstances. She pointed out that she has voiced these concerns to management in light of the current pandemic.

“I talk to the management at Butler almost daily. They are very communicative,” May said. “The flow of communication is very open.”

May said management has been receptive to the union's comments and requests, and she understands the seriousness of the rapidly developing situation and COVID-19 taking priority right now.

“I think there's a lot of pokers in the fire right now and their priority — as it should be — is protecting the patients and the staff,” she said.