COLUMBUS, Ohio — With COVID-19 infections still at one of their highest levels of the pandemic, the leaders of Columbus' four major health systems say emergency departments and urgent cares remain at "critical capacity."
At least 3,549 Ohioans were hospitalized with the virus as of Wednesday, with thousands being diagnosed with the disease each day. On Wednesday, 7,747 new cases of COVID-19 were reported, according to the Ohio Department of Health.
"Our waiting rooms are filled with people seeking care for COVID-19. Hundreds of patients who have been admitted to our hospitals are still waiting in our emergency departments for beds in our intensive care and medical-surgical units to open," wrote Mount Carmel CEO Lorraine Lutton, OhioHealth CEO Dr. Steve Markovich, Nationwide Children's Hospital CEO Tim Robinson and Dr. Andrew Thomas, chief clinical officer at Ohio State University's Wexner Medical Center.
In their letter, the hospital leaders ask that patients consider the best option for their care if they suspect they have COVID-19.
They encouraged central Ohioans to get tested at retail pharmacies if possible in order to alleviate the pressure on hospitals. They also suggested patients seek help from their primary care doctor before going to an emergency department or urgent care location.
Telemedicine, which became more available during the pandemic, is also a good option if people suspect they have COVID-19 and need medical advice or treatment, the hospital leaders wrote in their letter.
"We always want people to call 911 and come to our emergency departments if they need lifesaving care. ... But unless your COVID-19 symptoms are worsening or life-threatening, you have better care options that can help us stay focused on delivering advanced care to those who need it most," the letter states.
The latest letter comes just weeks after the four CEOs pleaded with the public to help slow the spread of the virus. In the Aug. 27 letter, the leaders warned "safety net is now in jeopardy" due to the staggering rise in COVID-19 hospitalizations.
ICU capacity remains varied at Columbus-area hospitals, with at least four near or above 90% full.
OhioHealth's Doctors Hospital ICU was at 99% capacity while Riverside Methodist Hospital's ICU was 98% full and Grant Medical Center was 93% full as of the week of Sept. 3, the most recent date for which data is available from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Ohio State Wexner Medical Center was 89.9% full, data shows.
Along with an elevated number of new COVID-19 cases overall, infections among kids have also become increasingly common in the latest wave of the pandemic. The week of Aug. 29, 11,729 children were diagnosed with the virus, which was more than at any other time in the pandemic, state data shows.
The best way to slow the latest spike in cases continues to be vaccination and mask wearing, the hospital leaders said in their Thursday letter.
So far, more than 6.2 million Ohioans, or 53% of the state, have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, state data shows. In Franklin County, more than 57% of residents have received at least one dose of a vaccine.
"The means to end this pandemic are here, but we're not yet at the end of the road," the letter reads. "Please help us, by seeking the right care, at the right place, at the right time."
