From Advent Health Hendersonville

The Omicron surge is filling up our hospital with 40% of our patients positive for COVID-19. We have 10 COVID-19+ patients in ICU.

The added challenge to this surge is the impact it is having on members of our health care team. We are once again pulling team members from other departments to work with clinical teams in a variety of support roles.

AdventHealth Hendersonville has created this important video update to keep the community informed as we work to overcome this challenge together.

We need the help of the community to try to slow the spread of this variant. Every level of protection can help reduce the number of positive cases including wearing masks, washing hands, social distancing and avoiding large gatherings. The vaccines continue to reduce the risk of severe illness and hospitalization with the current variant. If you haven’t already, we encourage you to get vaccinated or a booster dose, if you are eligible.

For updates on anything related to coronavirus, visit our Coronavirus Resource Hub, www.adventhealth.com/coronavirus-resource-hub.

From Pardee UNC Health Care

Statement to community on the current COVID surge and impact on patient care.

I’m writing to speak clearly and openly about the strain that our hospital is currently under. As we approach our second full year of battling this pandemic and navigating what feels like a never-ending cycle of surges, it’s important to understand the impact of this current surge and our ability to provide care to those who need it most.

In the past weekend alone, we have seen a 71% increase in patients hospitalized for COVID. As of Monday, Jan. 10, we were caring for 36 COVID-positive patients, with seven of those requiring care in our ICU and four on a ventilator. We anticipate this number will continue to climb until we get through this current wave of community transmission and the highly contagious Omicron variant. We are also seeing high numbers of influenza, RSV and other illnesses that compound our current situation and push our census much higher than normal. We do not expect the peak of omicron to arrive until a few more weeks.

As other area hospitals go on diversion, we continue to accept their patients and are more than happy to do so. But with each additional patient, we experience added strain on our system. To manage the flow and needs of this increase in critical care for our patients, Pardee has had to shift the overflow of critical, non-COVID patients from our ICU to our Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU), cared for by nurses skilled in the care of ICU patients. We may have to shift patients even more in order to adequately care for patients who require isolation. In addition, we have had to temporarily pause all elective inpatient and outpatient surgeries, as well as all elective cardiac procedures. We will continue to meet all emergent and critical surgery needs.

~ Jay Kirby, President and CEO, Pardee Health Care issues

Read the full article at BlueRidgeNow: www.blueridgenow.com/story/news/2022/01/10/pardee-ceo-issues-statement-current-covid-surge-impact-care/9161457002.

From Mission Health

I’m so grateful for my Mission Health colleagues that care each day for our patients. Like the rest of the nation, we are also facing this third wave of COVID patients, with our numbers of COVID-positive patients doubling in the past month. We continue to encourage our staff and community to get vaccinated and take the recommended precautions. Further, our clinical leadership team continues to review surgical priorities throughout each day so that we can balance providing both COVID and non-COVID care needed by our community.

Mission Health is honored to have such dedicated team members to care for our community during these challenging times.

~ Greg Lowe, President HCA Healthcare North Carolina

To learn more about our safety measures, or if you have questions about COVID-19, call 833-582-1974, or visit missionhealth.org/covid-19.

NC Hospital Association

An Open Letter to North Carolinians on Working Together to Defeat COVID-19.

North Carolina is at a critical juncture in the battle against COVID-19 and we need your immediate help to slow community spread of the virus.

The omicron variant is highly infectious. While it might cause only mild illnesses for some people, including some who have been vaccinated, our hospitals are filling up fast with COVID patients – a vast majority of whom are unvaccinated. This situation is putting daily strain on our ability to care for those who have other urgent medical needs that are not COVID-related.

Our best chance of returning to living healthy, normal lives is to make sure our families, friends and work colleagues are choosing to be vaccinated and getting their recommended booster shots.

Read the full letter at www.ncha.org/2022/01/an-open-letter-to-north-carolinians-on-working-together-to-defeat-covid-19.