This 2021 photo provided by Yessica Gonzalez shows her 9-year-old son Francisco Rosales in the intensive care unit at the Children's Medical Center in Dallas, Texas. The day before he should start fourth grade, Francisco was admitted to the hospital with severe COVID-19, breathing difficulties, dangerously low oxygen levels, and uncertain results.
According to the latest federal data, at least 28 hospitals in Texas did not have ICU beds last week.
The highly contagious delta variant of COVID-19 continues to send hundreds of unvaccinated Texans to critically ill hospitals every day, putting these facilities under tremendous pressure and the need to find space for new patients.
After peaking in August, the number of hospitals that reported full ICU wards began to decline—but still more than at any time during the state's winter's deadliest pandemic surge.
Every Monday, Texas hospitals report their current ICU bed capacity to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
At least 28 hospitals in Texas have reported that their ICU beds were full between Friday, November 5 and Thursday, November 11. The federal government releases weekly ICU capacity data reported by approximately 200 Texas hospitals with more than 4 ICU patients or four staffed ICU beds.
Since data for hospitals with fewer than four patients or with adult ICU beds were edited, the percentage of ICU beds with personnel was not calculated. At any given time, of the more than 400 Texas hospitals that report data to the federal government, approximately 200 have fewer than four adult ICU beds.
Check the ICU capacity of Houston area and other Texas hospitals from November 5 to 11 at houstonchronicle.com/tribunecovidbeds.
There has never been a shortage of hospital staff, which has exacerbated the pressure on all departments, including emergency rooms, respiratory treatments and even childbirth and delivery. If there is no capacity to accept new patients—and resources elsewhere are equally scarce, they can be transferred elsewhere—doctors worry that they will have to start making heartbreaking care decisions to save as many lives as possible.
Dr. Mark Casanova, a Dallas-based palliative care expert and member of the Texas Medical Association's COVID-19 Working Group, said in August: “We are entering a period of the most severe surge in absolute numbers.” “This is what it should have done. The fourth round of the three-round battle. We are indeed very worried that the numbers game will overwhelm us."
According to federal data, hospitals where 100% of ICU beds are occupied in the Houston area include: HCA Houston Health Care Medical Center, Kindred Hospital, and Houston Methodist Willowbrook Hospital. Houston Methodist Hospital and Memorial Herman Texas Medical Center are 99%, and Chi St. Luke's Health Baylor College of Medicine is 98%.
According to the federal government, weekly ICU capacity figures should not prevent patients from seeking medical care in these facilities.
The agency said in December: “The hospital has an agreement to ensure that patients are protected from exposure and that all patients receive priority treatment.”
The vast majority of COVID-19 patients in hospitals and intensive care units are not vaccinated.
Doctors say that wearing masks, washing hands, and keeping social distancing is the best way to reduce the number of hospitalizations in the short term, and in many cases, monoclonal antibody therapy for patients with COVID-19 symptoms can keep them away from the hospital.
They also stated that the only way to permanently slow the surge in hospitalizations is to vaccinate most of the state.
The Texas Tribune (texastribune.org.) is a non-partisan newsroom supported by members that provides information and participation to Texans on state politics and policies.
This boy is now the youngest victim on the Travis Scott show.
Authors: Nora Mishanek, Emily Foxhall