Area hospitals overwhelmed in the midst of COVID-19 resurgence
Central Arkansas hospitals are quickly becoming overwhelmed with patients suffering the worst effects of COVID and other ailments. The Omicron variant of the virus, seemingly more contagious than previous strains, has been on the rise since early December and is currently pushing hospital staff to their limits as emergency rooms fill up, hospital beds run short, and medical workers become patients, themselves.
Baptist Health Medical Center’s facilities in Malvern and Arkadelphia have experienced an influx of COVID patients in the last few weeks, coupled with an increase in infected workers, and subsequently, an increase in staffing shortages. Baptist’s Director of Corporate Communications Cara Wade released a statement Friday to address the growing concern.
Wade stated, in part, “We continue to see a daily increase in hospitalizations due to COVID-19, though we still haven’t reached the 300 numbers we were seeing during the last surge in the summer. [As of Jan. 14], we have a total of 258 COVID-19 patients in our Baptist Health hospitals across Arkansas with 77 of those in an intensive care unit and 48 on ventilators.”
Wade said the facilities in the Baptist Health system are struggling to stay safe and fully-staffed through this particular surge. “It is not uncommon to flex and adjust daily in order to create capacity. The primary challenge is having adequate staffing to open additional beds,” Wade asserted. “The current nursing shortage along with the highly contagious spread of omicron and its impact on our employees makes for a very challenging situation,” she stated.
Wade pointed to the increase in infected workers and their families as distinctive and troubling. “What is different with this surge is the large number of staff being impacted personally with Omicron,” Wade stated. “The already existing nursing shortage and the very contagious spread of Omicron combined make for a very challenging situation.”
“We also continue to see a huge demand for COVID testing, which is showing around a 45 percent positivity rate,” Wade stated. The White House may be able to assist in this regard, as the Biden Administration announced Jan. 14 that they will be purchasing one billion at-home, rapid-covid testing kits. Americans can order four free kits per household at COVIDTests.gov starting Jan. 19.
Wade said the quickly-escalating number of COVID cases in the community has the potential to overburden the medical system unlike anything they’ve seen so far. “The other difference right now is the large percentage of people getting sick in our communities,” she stated. “The high number of patients testing positive has the possibility to overwhelm the hospitals even more now than the other surges.”
Saline Memorial Hospital in Benton is struggling to meet the growing demands of the community as COVID case numbers increase exponentially. “It’s been busy for weeks. ER is usually packed every day,” Saline Memorial’s House Supervisor, Jeff Robertson, stated. He said the staff is on the front lines of a tiresome battle. “We’ve been in a war, is what I’ve called it, for two years.”
“I get calls every day trying to get transfers from other facilities, outlying facilities looking for beds,” Robertson shared of the increasing demand for more intensive medical treatment across the region. “It’s a very stressful time.”
Robertson said that medical staff are dedicated to doing their best to provide care for the community, but that staying safe is a growing challenge. “It’s tough on staff because they’re working directly with these people, and they’re exposed.” Robertson stated. He said the one thing he wanted to stress to the public is patience. “If people come to the emergency room, they just need be patient with the staff and be understanding. We want to get to them as fast as we possible,” Robertson stated.
National Park Medical Center in Hot Springs is another local facility used by many Hot Spring County residents. CEO Scott Smith said in a statement that NPMC is not yet at capacity and that staff are holding up well, under the circumstances.
“National Park Medical Center’s top priority is to provide safe, high-quality care to those we serve. Over the past several weeks, we have seen increases in COVID-19 patients, and we are certainly feeling the impact,” Smith stated. “Currently, we are treating more than 15 patients who have tested positive for COVID-19 in our hospital.”
“Our hospital does have available beds and staff to care for our patients, and we want to encourage our neighbors to be sure and seek care as it is needed. Don’t delay out of fear or doubt,” Smith stated. “We have protective measures in place, including the requirement of masks for all staff, visitors and patients, enhanced cleaning protocols and isolation of patients with infectious diagnoses.”
Smith urged the standard precautionary measures to the public. “While there are some breakthrough cases, the CDC’S studies reflect that COVID vaccines, and especially booster vaccines, are proving to be highly effective against the variant,” Smith stated.
“We continue to encourage our entire community to help fight the spread COVID-19 by becoming vaccinated and boosted,” Smith stated. “It is also wise to wear a mask, socially distance from others and practice proper hand hygiene to help slow the spread of illness.”
“We will continue to adjust our care and protective precautions in keeping with our mission of Making Communities Healthier,” Smith stated. He said patients diagnosed with COVID-19 should talk with their medical provider about available therapies and treatments.
Medical professionals urge the public to follow CDC guidelines: get the vaccine, wear a mask, and practice social distancing. For more information, read the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s COVID-19 page at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html.