Some Banner hospitals over 100% capacity, limiting elective surgeries
Dec 23, 2020, 1:47 PM | Updated: 5:23 pm
(Banner Health Photo)
(Banner Health Photo)
PHOENIX – With COVID-19 surging across Arizona, multiple facilities in the state’s largest hospital system have cut back on elective surgeries and are operating at over 100% capacity, Banner Health’s chief clinical officer said Wednesday.
“While we have not yet reached 100 percent of our total licensed bed capacity, several of our hospitals, like Banner-University Phoenix, Banner Thunderbird and Banner Desert, have been operating above 100% capacity for quite some time,” Dr. Marjorie Bessel said during her weekly online press conference.
“In addition, our ICU occupancy remains very high.”
Bessel said 58% of Banner’s ICU beds were filled with COVID-19 patients, which is higher than the statewide rate of 55% reported Wednesday morning by the Arizona Department of Health Services.
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Bessel didn’t specify which hospitals were halting or reducing elective surgeries.
“At this time we are making those decisions on a hospital-by-hospital basis,” she said. “We continue to monitor our census hourly and daily and expect that we will continue to have to make some additional adjustments.”
The term “elective” shouldn’t be construed as meaning the procedures can easily be delayed without repercussions for the patient.
“I want to remind you that elective surgeries can include things like mastectomies, gallbladder surgeries and hip replacements,” Bessel said.
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“These are medically necessary procedures that, if delayed for too long, can result in medical complications that require hospitalization and intensive care.”
Despite the difficulties caused by the rising wave of COVID-19 patients, Bessel urged people to seek medical help if they need it.
“And we do want to remind you that if you need care, we are a safe place to come get care,” she said. “Please, if you need to go to an urgent care, if you need emergency department services, we’re here for you and we do want to see you.”
Bessel said the public could help reduce the spread of COVID-19, and the strain on the health care system, by following mitigation measures, especially by wearing faces masks and “shrinking your circle” of in-person contact.
“Most of you did not take an oath to save lives, but today I’m asking you to join those of us who have so that we can collectively save as many lives as possible during this pandemic,” she said.
