Unvaccinated COVID patients are flooding some hospitals in Pennsylvania as the surge continues.

Hospitals are filled with an increase in cases of COVID-19, an untreated portion of non-COVID-19 medical needs postponed or exacerbated by postponement of selective treatment last year, and, unlike last year, a busy period of influenza. increase.

So far, the situation in Philadelphia, where vaccination rates are high, is better than in other parts of the state. However, public health officials have warned that the post-Thanksgiving surge could be greater as people gather for the rest of the winter vacation, unless behavior changes.

The St. Luke’s University Health System in Lehigh Valley may show where things are heading. Jeffrey Jarre, Vice President of St. Luke’s and Honorary Chief of Infectious Diseases, said the hospital now has about the same number of COVID-19 patients as it did last year. About 80% of those patients are unvaccinated.

“Sadly, the current surge has been avoided. It is being driven by those who choose not to be vaccinated,” he said. In response to the increase in COVID-19, this week in a statement announcing a return to a more restrictive visitor policy.

He and other hospital leaders say employees are suffering from burnout 20 months after the pandemic, and almost a year after the vaccine was first available. Healthcare professionals are trained to never blame the patient’s illness and provide compassionate care without judgment. However, frustration is boiling as the intensive care unit is once again filled with COVID-19 patients. The majority of them are not vaccinated.

“Overall, I think morale is good, but remembering the healthcare professionals a year ago, they are widely recognized as heroes and are part of a very important mission.” There were many more. I’m going to do this. That’s what we’re working on in this business, “says Jahre. “A year later, it’s a difficult concept to keep going, as we have better weapons and know that people aren’t using them. So some of these wounds are self-harm. It’s a wound. “

Rob Ship, vice president of artificial health and clinical affairs at the Pennsylvania Hospital Health Systems Association, said high COVID infections are currently occurring in all parts of the state. Residents can help stressed hospital employees and play their part in preventing even bigger problems after Christmas, he said. Wear a mask indoors and get the first round or booster of a COVID-19 shot. Influenza has historically surged in January and February, so get your flu shot now. Within a few weeks of receiving the vaccination, the vaccination will be fully effective.

Even before COVID-19, hospitals often faced high demand in December as cases of influenza began to increase. But this year, the hospital’s capacity has become even more “difficult” than usual, Ship said. Hospitals in Philadelphia have a lower percentage of cases of COVID-19 than hospitals in other parts of the state, but he said he was still busy.

On Thursday, Ship said there were 4,404 patients admitted to a Pennsylvania hospital by 950 since Thanksgiving. More than 900 people were in the intensive care unit, an increase of 175. Fifty-nine percent of ICU patients use ventilators.

According to Ship, the waiting time in the emergency department has increased, and some hospitals have delayed certain types of surgery, especially those that require an overnight stay. Nursing homes are restricted from admission due to lack of staff, and some hospitals find it difficult to discharge patients in need of additional care, he said. Some of them are also hesitant to accept unvaccinated patients for fear of starting an outbreak.

Hospitals monitor demand and make fluid decisions about procedures and hospitalization. “It really seems like a daily routine, even in the morning / afternoon situation,” he said.

Shipp said the supply of hospital beds compared to demand was most restricted in northeastern, central and southern Pennsylvania.

But Philadelphia is still nervous. In addition to viral illnesses and delays in care, the city has experienced a historic rate of gun violence, which also stresses the health system.

Jessica Lopez, a spokeswoman for Jefferson Health, said Jefferson had plenty of room for those who needed it. However, many emergency departments have longer wait times. The system recommends that “people who do not need emergency services use emergency medical centers and / or telemedicine for easy access.”

Temple Health spokesman Jeremy Walter said the hospital in his system remains busy, but “manages patient numbers.”

“Fortunately, we are in a city where more than 90% of adults have been vaccinated at least once, which has dramatically increased the number of COVIDs,” he said. “We don’t have to turn back patients and don’t limit selective surgery. Be vigilant, stay socially distant, wear masks, and above all, get booster vaccines for everyone. Please. “

A Penn medicine spokesman said Penn is also seeing an increase in patients “especially in areas where vaccination is inadequate in the areas we serve.” “The system is ready to respond to the current increase in COVID cases in our area and maintains a strong plan to ensure an ongoing capacity to care for patients of all types, he said. I have. “

Main Line Health has seen an increase in COVID-19 cases since the summer and is almost completely unvaccinated, but the number of cases is “much less” than at this time last year, according to the health system. Jonathan Stallkamp, ​​Chief Medical Officer, said.

In St. Luke’s, most patients are allowed two visitors during their visit. When the number of COVID-19 cases declined earlier this year, the medical system allowed anyone to visit, but the surge in new cases allows nurses and other medical staff to “control” visitor etiquette. It means that you are spending a lot of time on it. Avoid mixing in public places and eat only in the cafeteria. You need to remove the mask to do so.

He said there were even cases where inpatients were infected with COVID-19 by visitors.

“We go through the screening and ask all the questions … there is no way to fully monitor this,” he said. “We need our staff to serve their intended purpose and provide quality medical care.”