OMAHA, Neb. (KMTV) — Officials say the surge in COVID-19 cases in Nebraska has led to record-high hospitalizations that are straining the state’s health care system.
The number of people hospitalized with the virus in the state set another new record on Sunday, with 613, which was one more than the previous day.
Nebraska’s largest hospitals have all started limiting elective surgeries as they work to handle the increase in COVID-19 hospitalizations, which is expected to continue because cases of the virus continue rising.
Methodist started postponing some of these non-emergency procedures last Thursday. Starting Monday, Nebraska Medicine and CHI Health are doing the same.
"For certain types of procedures that can be postponed a few weeks to free up beds, patients may be called if they fall into this category," CHI Health's Chief Medical Officer Cary Ward said.
The chief medical officers of Nebraska Medicine, CHI Health and Methodist say postponing these surgeries will help hospital capacity. However, each individual has the social responsibility to take more precautions to keep hospitalization rates down.
"We cannot produce unlimited hospital capacity. We need your help," Methodist Chief Medical Officer Dr. Bill Lydiatt said.
Although beds are a concern, all three chief medical officers say staffing is actually a bigger problem than the beds available.
"No matter how many beds we have, we need to be able to staff those beds and that's where a great portion of our focus is at right now," Nebraska Medicine Chief Medical Officer Dr. Harris Frankel said.
The doctors say the $40 million that Governor Ricketts allocated to hospital staffing last month has been a big help.
Dr. Ward said Monday that Nebraska hospitals could reach capacity quickly if current trends continue. Currently, hospitalizations are nearly doubling every two weeks.
Watch below or on our Facebook page.
3 News Now Reporter Ruta Ulcinaite provided live updates during the press conference via Twitter:
About to hop on a Zoom call w/ the chief medical officers of CHI Health, Methodist and Nebraska Medicine. From some of the tips I heard, things are looking bleak in the coming months. Tune in at 6pm for updates on capacity, hospitalizations and projections. @3NewsNowOmaha
— Ruta Ulcinaite KMTV (@RutaUlcinaite) November 2, 2020
Nebraska Medicine Chief Medical Officer Harris Frankel: The three health systems are working together as Omaha deals with a surge of COVID cases.
— Ruta Ulcinaite KMTV (@RutaUlcinaite) November 2, 2020
Methodist Chief Medical Officer Dr. Lydiatt: Surge is major. We can manage but we cannot produce unlimited hospital capacity.
BREAKING: Methodist has stopped elective surgeries.
— Ruta Ulcinaite KMTV (@RutaUlcinaite) November 2, 2020
BREAKING: Methodist has stopped elective surgeries.
— Ruta Ulcinaite KMTV (@RutaUlcinaite) November 2, 2020
Methodist has the highest number of COVID patients since the pandemic began.
— Ruta Ulcinaite KMTV (@RutaUlcinaite) November 2, 2020
Methodist has the highest number of COVID patients since the pandemic began.
— Ruta Ulcinaite KMTV (@RutaUlcinaite) November 2, 2020
CHI Health Chief Medical Officer Dr. Ward: Staff are approaching their limits at all 14 hospitals across the state. Has doubled COVID patients in the last couple weeks. If trend continues, every hospital will be at capacity soon.
— Ruta Ulcinaite KMTV (@RutaUlcinaite) November 2, 2020
CHI: Some elective surgeries will be postponed. Patients will be called and be made aware.
— Ruta Ulcinaite KMTV (@RutaUlcinaite) November 2, 2020
CHI: There's no room for further debate about wearing masks. Wear them. They work.
— Ruta Ulcinaite KMTV (@RutaUlcinaite) November 2, 2020
Methodist stopped elective surgeries Thursday. They stopped just in time so that they could maintain capacity.
— Ruta Ulcinaite KMTV (@RutaUlcinaite) November 2, 2020
BREAKING: Nebraska Medicine started dialing back elective surgeries today.
— Ruta Ulcinaite KMTV (@RutaUlcinaite) November 2, 2020
BREAKING: Nebraska Medicine started dialing back elective surgeries today.
— Ruta Ulcinaite KMTV (@RutaUlcinaite) November 2, 2020
Frankel: Staffing is our biggest concern. More than the actual space inside the hospitals.
— Ruta Ulcinaite KMTV (@RutaUlcinaite) November 2, 2020
Ward: It doesn't look like we're going to get any more mandates any time soon (directed health measures I'm assuming), so people need to take it upon themselves to be careful. Don't go to crowded weddings, wear masks.
— Ruta Ulcinaite KMTV (@RutaUlcinaite) November 2, 2020
All three hospital systems say contact your physician if you have questions about your elective surgeries.
— Ruta Ulcinaite KMTV (@RutaUlcinaite) November 2, 2020
Ward (CHI): We don't see a need for field hospitals (outside tents). COVID patients are all across all units in the hospitals.
— Ruta Ulcinaite KMTV (@RutaUlcinaite) November 2, 2020
Frankel (Neb Med): The hospitals have used alternative locations inside the hospitals for COVID patients.But staffing, not beds is the real problem here.
Lydiatt (Methodist): We have a number of strategies that give us confidence that we have the capacity to care for our community. But we can't do this indefinitely. Ppl need to take social responsibility to reduce hospitalizations.
— Ruta Ulcinaite KMTV (@RutaUlcinaite) November 2, 2020
What DHM's they'd like to see? Stronger DHM's?
— Ruta Ulcinaite KMTV (@RutaUlcinaite) November 2, 2020
Lydiatt: I'd leave it to the politicians. Whatever is necessary to stop COVID. Glad I don't have to make those decisions. Ward: Leaders have been great about collaborating with us.
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