ST. MARY’S SACRED HEART HOSPITAL EXPERIENCING HIGH VOLUME OF COVID PATIENTS

Story by M.J. Kneiser WLHR

St. Mary’s Sacred Heart Hospital President Jeff English said Monday the hospital is experiencing the highest volume of COVID-19 patients they have seen since the beginning of the pandemic.

In a press release issued Monday afternoon, English said like many other hospitals around the state, Sacred Heart is feeling the stress of high volumes, high acuity, and the long stays many COVID patients require.

St. Mary’s Healthcare policy does not permit releasing the exact number of COVID patients in any of their hospitals, but there is concern the number of patients will rise in the coming weeks.

“We are concerned that we will see additional surges from holiday gatherings on top of the ongoing surge that began after Thanksgiving. We urge everyone to redouble their commitment to being COVID safe,” English said. “We remain fully open and are committed to providing excellent care to all who need it. It is vital that people who need care come on in. Waiting can make health problems worse and more difficult to treat.”

According to English, the major impact that patients are likely to encounter is longer wait times than usual in Sacred Heart’s Emergency Department. Due to high volumes, he said they also may have to hold some admitted patients in the ED until beds open up in their nursing units.

“We continue to work with our medical staff to expedite discharges when medically appropriate,” he explained.

However, English noted that the arrival of the COVID vaccine gives them hope that the end of the pandemic is in sight.

“We are confident the vaccines that have received FDA emergency use authorization are safe and effective, and we urge everyone to get vaccinated according to their priority level as set by the State of Georgia,” he stated. “We currently have only enough vaccine for our colleagues and credentialed providers, so we encourage others to contact their local Health Department to find out when and where they can be vaccinated. At this point, the vaccine is not available from our Medical Group offices, but as vaccines that do not require extreme refrigeration become more available, that may change.”

In the meantime, and for months to come, English said it remains essential that everyone work to flatten the curve by wearing a mask in public, maintaining physical distance of 6 feet or more from anyone who does not live in your household, washing your hands, avoiding gatherings, and staying home if sick except to seek medical care.

“We are confident the vaccine will turn this situation around when enough people get it, but it will take time. Until then, we need to stay vigilant,” he concluded.

That, he said is coupled with the reality that the illness has also had an impact on hospital staffing.

The surge in COVID cases is being blamed on people ignoring the safety guidelines over the Thanksgiving holiday and participating in larger than recommended gatherings.

And now that the Christmas and New Year’s holidays are over, English said St. Mary’s is concerned that they will see additional surges from holiday gatherings on top of the ongoing surge that began after Thanksgiving.

Despite that English said Sacred Heart remains fully open and committed to providing excellent care to all who need it.

To that end, English is urging those who need care to come in and be afraid of the spike in COVID cases.

He points out that waiting to get healthcare can make health problems worse and more difficult to treat.

English said right now, the major impact that patients are likely to encounter at Sacred Heart is longer wait times than usual in the Emergency Department.

Due to high volumes, we also may have to hold some admitted patients in the ED until beds open up in our nursing units.

English concluded by stating that the arrival of the COVID vaccine gives healthcare professionals at Sacred Heart hope that the end of the pandemic is in sight.

Sacred Heart has enough vaccine for hospital staff and credentialed providers but as yet is not available from the St. Mary’s Sacred Heart Medical offices because of the extreme refrigeration requirements of the Pfizer vaccine.

English said for the months to come, it is important for people to work towards flattening the curve by
wearing a mask or face covering in public, maintaining physical distance of 6 feet or more from anyone who does not live in your household, washing your hands, avoiding gatherings, and staying home if sick except to seek medical care.