PHOENIX – Several hospitals in the Phoenix area are leading patients away from the emergency room due to a backlog of patients.
As of Tuesday morning, six Valley hospitals were actively diverting patients, according to an online post from Banner. Up to 10 Valley hospitals rerouted patients at the same time on Monday.
Banner has spent months expanding its capacity and staff to meet the increased demand for healthcare following the COVID-19 pandemic.
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– Banner Health (@BannerHealth) December 29, 2020
RELATED: Arizona Surpasses 500,000 Cases of COVID-19
The hospitals are closed to incoming emergency transports and hospital relocations, while health workers are quickly addressing a backlog of patients, Banner Health said.
The diversion does not apply to walk-in patients who need urgent care.
Hospitals can go on all-day distraction if they can free up enough capacity and resources, while others may go on longer, Banner Health officials said.
On Tuesday, the Arizona Department of Health Services reported 2,799 new cases of COVID-19 and 171 additional deaths related to COVID-19.
#NEW I just got similar information from @Maricopahealth which they say is a combo from Maricopa – Gila – Pinal provinces.
– 568 (10%) available medical / surgical beds
– 105 (9%) available ICU bedsPima County today reported 8 available ICU beds.
State Dashboard shows 154 available ICU @ abc15 https://t.co/wwC7mFtHqT
– Mike Pelton (@ MikePeltonABC15) December 29, 2020
According to Banner Health, an influx of patients into Arizona hospitals in the past 48 hours has resulted in some distraction.
On Tuesday, ABC15 also spoke with a doctor from another hospital system, who said the increase in the number of patients is putting pressure on the entire system statewide.
“Phoenix often takes care of the rest of the state,” said Dr. Sam Durrani, chairman of the Honor Health COVID-19 Medical Staff Task Force. So, Yuma is full, the Navajo Nation is full, they are moving to Phoenix. If the hospitals are on distraction, we cannot accept those patients because we have to take care of our own community. So if you have multiple hospitals bypass that means those hospitals can’t take care of out-of-state patients, then they go to other hospitals and fill them up. “
Dr. Durrani noted that the main problem is adequate staff, not beds.
“I think it would be an accurate description to say that the hospital systems are currently under attack by COVID-19,” he said.
Dr. Durrani told ABC15 in their facilities that elective surgeries are already being canceled on a case-by-case basis, and if trends continue, they could all be delayed in the next two weeks to free up resources.
“These are cases that need to be done and they need post-operative care in the ICU, so you’re talking about patients needing heart surgery,” said Dr. Durrani. “That’s a life-saving surgery, patients needing major vascular surgery, aneurysm repair and things like that, that we’re putting off, and it may be contributing to the overall mortality and morbidity of the pandemic.”