PHOENIX – Several hospitals in the Phoenix area are diverting patients from their emergency rooms due to the accumulation of patients.
As of Tuesday morning, six Valley hospitals were actively diverting patients, according to an online post by Banner. Up to 10 Valley hospitals were referring patients at the same time on Monday.
Banner has been working for many months to expand his 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
RELATED: Arizona Exceeds 500,000 COVID-19 Cases
Hospitals are closed for emergency transports and hospital transfers, while health professionals quickly resolve the accumulation of patients, according to Banner Health.
The diversion does not apply to patients who need emergency care.
Hospitals can enter and exit the diversion throughout the day if they are able to free up sufficient capacity and resources, while others can remain on diversion longer, Banner Health officials said.
On Tuesday, the Arizona Department of Health Services reported 2,799 new cases of COVID-19 and 171 additional COVID-19-related deaths.
#NEW I just received similar information from @Maricopahealth said to be a combination of Maricopa – Gila – Pinal counties.
– 568 (10%) medical / surgical beds available
– 105 (9%) ICU beds availablePima County today reported 8 available ICU beds.
State panel shows 154 available ICUs @ abc15 https://t.co/wwC7mFtHqT
– Mike Pelton (@ MikePeltonABC15) December 29, 2020
According to Banner Health, a flow of patients in Arizona hospitals in the previous 48 hours led to several diversions.
On Tuesday, ABC15 also spoke with a doctor from a different hospital system, who said that the increase in patients is stressing the entire system across the state.
“Phoenix often takes care of the rest of the state,” said Dr. Sam Durrani, chairman of the COVID-19 Medical Staff Task Force, Honor Health. “So, Yuma is full, the Navajo Nation is full, they are transferred to Phoenix. If hospitals are on diversion, we cannot accept these patients because we have to take care of our own community. So, when you have several hospitals on diversion, it means that these hospitals cannot care for patients who are coming from outside the state, so they go to other hospitals and fill. “
Dr. Durrani noted that the biggest problem is the proper staff, not the beds.
“I think it would be an accurate description to say that hospital systems are being attacked by COVID-19 now,” he said.
Dr. Durrani told ABC15 at his facility that elective surgeries are already being canceled on a case-by-case basis and, if trends persist, they may be postponed for the next two weeks to help free up resources.
“These are cases that need to be done and need postoperative care in the ICU, so you are talking about patients who need cardiac surgery,” said Dr. Durrani. “This is life-saving surgery, patients who need major vascular surgery, aneurysm repair and the like, which we are delaying and potentially increasing the overall mortality and morbidity of the pandemic.”