HOUSTON – A Houston hospital mentioned it was inundated with sufferers over the weekend, prompting it to announce an “inside catastrophe” and main to attend occasions as much as 24 hours.
At one level, 130 folks have been ready to be seen within the emergency room at Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital on Sunday evening, the hospital mentioned.
A Harris Well being physician emailed lawmakers in regards to the scenario.
“With COVID as soon as once more at elevated charges in our county, our hospitals are as soon as once more strained,” the physician wrote within the message. “We’re at an untenable state.”
The physician mentioned inside catastrophe mode means the hospital is off the grid for sufferers coming in from locations just like the Houston Hearth Division’s ambulances, nevertheless it doesn’t cease folks from displaying up in particular person.
“I used to be feeling the anxiousness in her message that she wanted assist,” mentioned state Sen. John Whitmire, who obtained the message. “If residents of Harris County and Houston are ready 24 hours in an emergency room, that’s simply unacceptable.”
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The Harris Well being System is blaming a number of components, together with a rising surge of COVID-19 sufferers, a lot of non-COVID sufferers, and a scarcity of nurses.
“Whenever you put all of that collectively, it sort of creates an ideal storm situation,” mentioned Dr. Esmaeil Porsa, president and CEO of Harris Well being.
The president is aware of he has a nurse staffing problem. He mentioned he’s quick a complete of 140 nurses at LBJ and Ben Taub hospitals mixed. Porsa mentioned a part of that’s due to a nationwide scarcity, although some are additionally sick and a few have left.
“I’m pissed off. I’m disheartened,” Porsa mentioned. “I don’t get the sensation that folks perceive the gravity of the scenario that we’re in.”
He mentioned the newest COVID surge is creating quicker than the final one, leaving him anxious issues will solely worsen.
Whereas the state beforehand supplied some momentary nurses for the hospital, Porsa mentioned that’s now not occurring.
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Harris Well being plans to shut a few of its clinics later this week to maneuver these nurses into the hospitals. Porsa mentioned the well being system can be contemplating chopping again on elective procedures to unlock extra nursing workers.
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