Surge in COVID-19 cases puts Des Moines hospitals at capacity
UnityPoint Health Des Moines confirmed to KCCI Monday that all of its hospitals are at capacity for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic began.
According to UnityPoint Infectious Disease Specialist Dr. Rossana Rosa, Methodist Medical Center, Lutheran Hospital, Methodist West and Blank Children’s Hospital are full.
UnityPoint Health Des Moines said it saw a 25% increase in admitted COVID-19 patients between Friday and Monday.
"This is truly the worst point that we have ever experienced throughout the pandemic,” Rosa said. “Not even when we were into the May peak did we have numbers that were this high."
On Monday, the Iowa Department of Public Health website reported more than 1,100 Iowans hospitalized with COVID-19.
Polk County set a hospitalization record with 191 COVID-19 inpatients, prompting the Polk County Health Department to issue a “critical Polk County hospital public announcement.”
The announcement, made in partnership with UnityPoint Health Des Moines, MercyOne Des Moines and Broadlawns Medical Center, urged Polk County residents to help “change the trajectory of this disease.”
Polk County residents are asked to protect themselves and others by wearing masks, washing hands frequently, staying home when sick, getting flu shots, practicing social distancing and requiring masks during gatherings of more than 10 people.
Rosa called the situation “critical” and said full hospitals could result in long emergency room waits and the cancellation of elective surgeries.
“The situation that we find ourselves in right now was preventable,” Rosa said.
According to Rosa, community spread of the virus is more pronounced now than it was during May’s spike in cases. Rosa also noted a shortage in staffing that did not impact the hospitals in May.
With Thanksgiving on the horizon, Rosa urges Iowans to rethink gathering for the holidays.
“The way I see it is we have to make sacrifices this year so we can get together and celebrate next year’s (Thanksgiving),” she said.
KCCI asked the Office of the Governor what it plans to do if all hospitals reach capacity.
The Office of the Governor said Gov. Kim Reynolds often speaks with hospitals about surge plans and that she will provide more information during her Tuesday news conference.
MercyOne said in a statement to KCCI that it continues to see an increasing need for coronavirus care and it is expanding areas to safely care for COVID-19 patients.
The statement went on to say that MercyOne is assessing services to match care demands, bed availability and staffing. Some non-emergency procedures are delayed to ensure staffing is available where it is needed most.
