PHOENIX – Several hospitals in the Phoenix area are removing patients from the emergency room due to a small number of patients.
As of Tuesday morning, six hospitals in the Valley were actively entertaining patients, according to an online post from Banner. On Monday, up to 10 hospitals in the Valley entertained patients at the same time.
Banner has been working for several months to expand its capacity and staff to meet the growing demand for care caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
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– Banner Health (@BannerHealth) December 29, 2020
CONNECTION: Arizona exceeds 500,000 cases of COVID-19
Hospitals are closed for emergency transports and hospital transfers, while health workers are rapidly addressing a small number of patients, according to Banner Health.
Deviation does not apply to patients in need of emergency care.
Hospitals can continue and stop diversion throughout the day if they are able to release enough capacity and resources, while others can stay in diversion longer, Banner Health officials said.
On Tuesday, the Arizona Department of Health reported 2,799 new cases of COVID-19 and 171 additional COVID-19 deaths.
#NEW I just received similar information from @Maricopahealth that it is said to be a combo of Maricopa – Gila – Pinal counties.
– 568 (10%) medical / surgical beds available
– 105 (9%) ICU beds availablePima County reported 8 available ICU beds today.
The state dashboard shows 154 available ICUs @ abc15 https://t.co/wwC7mFtHqT
– Mike Pelton (@ MikePeltonABC15) December 29, 2020
According to Banner Health, an influx of patients to Arizona hospitals in the past 48 hours has led to several deviations.
On Tuesday, ABC15 also spoke with a doctor from another hospital system, who said that the increase in patients stresses the entire system at the state level.
“Phoenix often takes care of the rest of the state,” said Dr. Sam Durrani, chairman of the COVID-19 medical staff for honorary health. “So Yuma is full, the Navajo nation is full, it’s moving to Phoenix. If the hospitals are in diversion, we can’t accept those patients because we have to take care of our own community. So when you have more hospitals on the abbot, that means those hospitals can’t take care of patients who come from outside the state, then go to other hospitals and fill up. “
Dr. Durrani mentioned that the right staff, not the beds, is the biggest problem.
“I think it would be an accurate description to say that the hospital’s systems are being attacked by COVID-19 right now,” he said.
Dr. Durrani told ABC15 at their headquarters that elective operations are already canceled on a case-by-case basis and, if trends persist, they could all be postponed for the next two weeks to help release resources.
“These are cases that need to be done and need further postoperative care, so talk about patients who need heart surgery,” said Dr. Durrani. “This is a life-saving surgery, patients who need major vascular surgery, aneurysm repair and things like that, which we postpone and potentially add to the overall mortality and morbidity of the pandemic.”