ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) – Overwhelmed by an increase in COVID-19 patients, Alaska’s largest hospital on Tuesday implemented crisis care standards, prioritizing resources and treatments to patients who have the potential to benefit. if more.
“While we are doing our best, we can no longer provide standard care to each and every patient who needs our help,” Dr. Kristen Solana Walkinshaw, chief of staff at Providence Alaska Medical Center, wrote in a letter to Alaska and distributed Tuesday.
“Acuity and the number of patients now exceed our resources and our ability to care for beds with qualified caregivers, such as nurses and respiratory therapists. We have been forced in our hospital to apply crisis care standards,” he wrote. Walkinshaw.
Alaska, like other places, has seen an increase in coronavirus cases driven by the highly contagious delta variant. State health officials said Tuesday there were 691 new cases and six recent deaths, all Anchorage men between the 50s and 70s. A woman in her late 60s out of state also died recently to Juneau, the department said.
Health officials told statewide that there are 202 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 hospitalized and that there are nine additional patients being investigated. Officials said 33 of those people had fans.
The percentage of patients currently hospitalized with COVID-19 is 17.5%, depending on the state.
In Providence, more than 30% of hospitalized adult patients have tested positive. This also comes at a time of the year usually busiest for Alaska hospitals.
Walkinshaw noted that the COVID-19 dashboard, which is routinely updated with virus-related numbers, “is not equipped or designed to demonstrate the complexities of providing medical care during this unprecedented time.”
In Providence, one of only three hospitals in a city of about 300,000 people, officials have developed and approved procedures for rationing medical care and treatments, including dialysis and specialized ventilatory support.
The emergency room is overflowing in Providence and he said patients wait hours in the car to see a doctor to attend to emergencies.
Walkinshaw noted that what happens at Anchorage hospitals affects the entire state, as often only specialized care can be provided in the largest city in the state.
“Unfortunately, we cannot continue to meet this need; we no longer have the staff, the space or the beds, ”Walkinshaw wrote. “Because of this shortage, we can’t provide life-saving care to everyone who needs it.”
This has left patients across the state sitting in local hospitals, as Providence cannot accept their transfer.
“If you or your loved one needs specialist care in Providence, such as a cardiologist, traumatic surgeon or neurosurgeon, we may not have space now. There are no more staff beds left,” he wrote.
Walkinshaw said they expected an increase in COVID-19 cases in the next two to four weeks, causing an already stressful situation to possibly “progress rapidly toward a catastrophe,” he said.
He said the most important thing people can do is get vaccinated. Alaska was the first state to open vaccines to all residents. As of Monday, 56.5% of eligible Alaska have been vaccinated.
Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy, a Republican who has recovered from COVID-19 and has been vaccinated, said Alaska hospital employees work long hours, some have quit their jobs and there are capacity issues .
Dunleavy, who has never imposed a statewide mask warrant, has faced criticism in the past from some who say he has not come out strong enough to support vaccination.
“I urge, and I hope they print this, I strongly urge people to get a vaccine, I strongly urge them to do this,” he told reporters on Tuesday.
Walkinshaw also asked that everyone wear masks, even if they are vaccinated and avoid unmasked activities. He also urged people who are ill or have been exposed to getting tested and asked people to avoid potentially dangerous activities and situations that could increase the need for emergency medical care services.
“Unfortunately, if you are seriously injured, there may not be any beds available in our trauma center to save your life,” Walkinshaw wrote.
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Associated Press journalist Becky Bohrer contributed to this report from Juneau, Alaska.