CORONAVIRUS

‘We’re in a crisis’: Utah’s ICU beds above functionally full level

Aug 26, 2021, 6:49 PM | Updated: Aug 27, 2021, 11:25 am

SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Hospital Association said the state’s health care system is once again in a crisis situation as intensive care units fill up with sick COVID-19 patients.

“We’re in the middle of a significant surge,” said Greg Bell, president of the Utah Hospital Association. “An upswing in the number of infections and in the number of hospitalizations.”

Summer is already a busy time for hospitals, Bell said, and the current COVID surge comes as Utah has about 30 fewer available ICU beds than during the last spike in hospitalizations at the beginning of the year.

(UDOH)

“Physically we haven’t lost any beds. But we’ve lost a lot of staff,” Bell explained. “We’re not able to staff as many beds because of the burnout and turnover.”

The Utah Department of Health reported on Thursday that 463 people are hospitalized with confirmed cases of COVID-19 and that 185 of those patients are in ICUs.

To underscore just how critical the hospital bed situation is becoming, Bell said that so far this month there have been 206 transfer requests in Utah from one hospital system to a different hospital system.

“Basically 10 cases a day are being diverted or transferred so that we can load-balance among the various systems,” he said. “That just doesn’t happen in normal life — very, very rare. So to have this kind of volume and that kind of transfers just shows you we’re in a crisis.”

(UDOH)

Across the state, ICU beds were 89% full while ICU beds in referral centers reached 91% utilization on Thursday.

“Referral centers are the 16 hospitals in Utah with the capability to provide the best care for patients with COVID-19,” reads the description on the state’s COVID-19 website. “Because most patients are transferred to these facilities, their utilization is the best reflection of the true hospital capacity in Utah when looking at ICU beds.”

When Utah’s ICU beds are 72% full, the state health department said it “creates major strains on the health care system.”

“When 85% capacity is reached, Utah will be functionally out of staffed ICU beds, indicating an overwhelmed hospital system,” according to the website.

Unlike over the winter months when Utah’s hospitals were last full, Bell said the delta variant is causing pediatric cases and pediatric hospitalizations.

“There’s a myth out there that the illness is not afflicting children — it is,” Bell said. “Delta is infecting and sickening children at an alarming rate.”

The concern over hospital beds for children comes as cases of respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, are also increasing.

“All of a sudden in August, really out of cycle, we’ve had this very, very strong push of RSV infections,” Bell said. “Consequently, Primary Children’s is really feeling a lot of pressure.”

Primary Children’s Hospital said that construction and flooding after a rainstorm at the beginning of August made 20% of its beds unavailable.

“The hospital has been able to reopen about half the rooms and continues to work to maintain staffing levels during the surge in patients from illnesses and injuries including traumas, RSV and COVID,” Primary Children’s Hospital said in a statement.

KSL 5 TV Live

Coronavirus

FILE: Former Utah Jazz John Stockton reacts during a 76-70 Wichita State win over the Gonzaga Bulld...

Michael Houck

Former Utah Jazz star John Stockton sues Washington medical director about COVID misinformation policy

Former Utah Jazz superstar John Stockton has filed a federal lawsuit against Washington officials on First Amendment violations, arguing the state's policy of COVID-19 misinformation is unconstitutional.

6 days ago

Deer Creek Reservoir...

Alex Cabrero

State parks expecting another record visitation year, hiring more workers

It didn't matter how cold or snowy it was at Deer Creek State Park Friday afternoon. Nothing was going to stop Leonard Sawyer from taking his boat out to do a little fishing.

1 month ago

FILE —  Respiratory virus illness activity continues to increase across the US.
(Joe Burbank/Orl...

Emma Benson

‘Not viruses to mess around with’: Experts urge caution during ongoing ‘tripledemic’

Experts say though not as severe as last year, this winter we're seeing another "tripledemic" – rising cases of COVID-19, flu and RSV in Utah.

2 months ago

FILE - COVID-19 antigen home tests. (AP Photo/Patrick Sison, File)Credit: ASSOCIATED PRESS...

Emma Benson

‘The ICUs are full:’ Keep yourself and others healthy this holiday

It's time for holiday gatherings, but with more people around us comes a greater risk of getting sick.

3 months ago

Julianna Preece goes through the mountain of medical documents she's acquired for her health condit...

Lauren Steinbrecher

Herriman couple is suing CVS, says 5x Covid vaccine dose mistake caused health problems

A couple is suing a Utah CVS vaccination clinic, saying a nurse’s mistake led to the wife receiving five times the normal COVID-19 vaccine dose and caused serious health issues she’s still dealing with today.

4 months ago

FILE - COVID-19 antigen home tests. (AP Photo/Patrick Sison, File)Credit: ASSOCIATED PRESS...

Associated Press

More free COVID-19 tests from the government are available for home delivery through the mail

Americans can order more free COVID-19 tests online for home delivery.

4 months ago

Sponsored Articles

Modern chandelier hanging from a white slanted ceiling with windows in the backgruond...

Lighting Design

Light Up Your Home With These Top Lighting Trends for 2024

Check out the latest lighting design trends for 2024 and tips on how you can incorporate them into your home.

Technician woman fixing hardware of desktop computer. Close up....

PC Laptops

Tips for Hassle-Free Computer Repairs

Experiencing a glitch in your computer can be frustrating, but with these tips you can have your computer repaired without the stress.

Close up of finger on keyboard button with number 11 logo...

PC Laptops

7 Reasons Why You Should Upgrade Your Laptop to Windows 11

Explore the benefits of upgrading to Windows 11 for a smoother, more secure, and feature-packed computing experience.

Stylish room interior with beautiful Christmas tree and decorative fireplace...

Lighting Design

Create a Festive Home with Our Easy-to-Follow Holiday Prep Guide

Get ready for festive celebrations! Discover expert tips to prepare your home for the holidays, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere for unforgettable moments.

Battery low message on mobile device screen. Internet and technology concept...

PC Laptops

9 Tips to Get More Power Out of Your Laptop Battery

Get more power out of your laptop battery and help it last longer by implementing some of these tips from our guide.

Users display warnings about the use of artificial intelligence (AI), access to malicious software ...

Les Olson

How to Stay Safe from Cybersecurity Threats

Read our tips for reading for how to respond to rising cybersecurity threats in 2023 and beyond to keep yourself and your company safe.

‘We’re in a crisis’: Utah’s ICU beds above functionally full level