Heritage Valley Health System gearing up to treat surge of covid patients expected after the holidays

Heritage Valley Health System officials say they currently have enough beds for the covid-19 patients being admitted to the critical care units at its three hospitals.

But the health system has taken steps to treat more critically ill patients if there is a surge.

“As with other health care facilities in the region, Heritage Valley Health System continues to see a steady rise in the cases of covid-19 positive patients in our facilities,” said spokeswoman Suzanne Sakson.

“The patient volume in the critical care units at all three of our hospitals in Beaver, Sewickley and Kennedy Township remains stable,” she said. “However, we anticipate an increase with the post-holiday surge.”

Allegheny County on Wednesday reported 34 new coronavirus deaths, a record for a single day, and 727 additional coronavirus cases.

The death toll for the county stands at 619. There have been 105 deaths this month.

Federal, state and county health officials have asked hospitals to brace for a surge in covid-19 cases after the holidays.

A spike in positive cases after Thanksgiving overwhelmed the county’s case investigation efforts.

On Nov. 27, Allegheny County Health Director Dr. Debra Bogen said some models indicate that rising number of covid cases could overwhelm hospitals in Allegheny County within a month.

To prepare for a possible surge in cases, Heritage Valley has converted regular patient rooms at its hospitals in Sewickley and Beaver into units where people infected with the virus can be isolated while being treated, Sakson said.

The health-care system has 50 critical care beds across its three hospitals. As of Dec. 9, 28 of those beds were occupied, including 23 patients suffering from covid-19.

A total of 114 patients infected with the coronavirus have been admitted to Heritage Valley’s three hospitals, Sakson said.

If the critical care beds fill up, the hospital will use its post-anesthesia care units to treat for covid patients, she said.

The health care system’s contingency plan to deal with a surge includes modifying inpatient surgery schedules that require admission to a hospital if the number of critical care beds available dips below a certain level.

Sakson said the hospital’s staff also has a significant role in the health system’s ability to treat the growing number of covid patients.

“Heritage Valley Health System staff continue to support patient care as needed,” she said. “We are relying on our dedicated staff to work additional hours as needed to support the inpatient units. We are also prepared to redeploy staff from non-direct clinical assignments to assist in areas with critical need.”