Top Stories

Doctors, state officials concerned over rising hospitalizations

HARRISBURG — Health leaders across Pennsylvania are concerned over increasing hospitalizations.

During a news conference on Thursday, Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine stated that just under 5,000 people are being treated at Pennsylvania hospitals for COVID-19. More than 1,000 are in the intensive care unit.

“A number of counties in Pennsylvania have only a few ICU beds left, or actually no ICU beds left in their county,” Dr. Levine said.

Close to home, Butler Health Systems is dealing with its rise in hospitalizations.

This week, the organization activated phase 1 of its COVID-19 Surge Plan after the ICUs at Butler Memorial Hospital and Clarison Hospital reached capacity.

As part of the plan, the BMH Anesthesia Care Unit is being converted into a critical care unit, providing 15 extra ICU beds.

“We’re not out of space at this point in time,” said Dr. David Rottinghaus, Chief Medical Officer. “We’re just opening different sites of care in a very safe and measured fashion.”

Nonetheless, the rise in cases is alarming for health officials.

“Now, more than ever, we really need the community’s support to try to flatten the curve,” Dr. Rottinghaus said.

The hospital system has also opted to suspend non-emergent, elective surgeries that would require an inpatient stay.

That decision comes as other hospitals in Pennsylvania could be ordered to reduce elective surgeries.

During her press conference, Dr. Levine addressed her order from last week, which included the potential for “rapid reduction of elective procedures.”

Hospitals will receive a “reduction notice” should they meet two or more specified metrics.

Dr. Levine said right now, Southwestern Pennsylvania is among two regions to have met the “staffing shortage” metric, which indicates that 33% or more of the hospitals in the region anticipate staffing shortages within the next week.

As a solution, Levine stated that hospitals could share staff or divert employees between units.

She said that waivers have also been issued to allow more healthcare providers to provide care within hospitals.

When asked if Dr. Levine plans to roll out additional mitigation efforts, she stated, “in the end, we’ll do whatever is necessary to protect the public health of Pennsylvania.”