At least two Milwaukee-area hospital systems say they’re postponing elective surgeries because of the recent COVID-19 case surge. Continuing Coverage: Coronavirus in WisconsinThe latest numbers from the Wisconsin Hospital Association show southeast Wisconsin hospitals have admitted 43 COVID-19 patients in the past day.There are 134 intensive care unit beds available across 31 hospitals in the area. A surge in COVID-19 hospitalizations is having a ripple effect on other health needs.Froedtert Hospital said, “We have been forced to delay some deferrable surgical procedures that require beds in our hospitals.”ProHealth Care says its two Waukesha County hospitals are full or nearly full and “continue to postpone select elective surgeries.”And the area’s biggest hospital system is pleading for help from the public.Advocate Aurora took the extraordinary step of placing a full-page ad to say its beds are full, its wait times are long, and its doctors and nurses are hurting.”We’re just seeing a huge surge in cases of COVID. And we can’t stop this by ourselves,” said Mary Beth Kingston, Advocate Aurora’s chief nursing officer.The ad, which ran in Sunday papers from Milwaukee to Green Bay to Chicago calls on everyone to get vaccinated and boosted. All three of those health systems report the vast majority of hospitalizations are unvaccinated patients.Dr. Jeff Pothof of UW Health said all area health systems are feeling the strain and others could soon also start postponing non-emergency surgeries and procedures.”That would be the next thing you would start to see as hospitals desperately try to create some capacity to deal with those unexpected sick patients that are coming in,” Pothof said.Hospitals in the Green Bay area this month have already had to turn away and transfer some patients due to the surge.Advocate Aurora, meanwhile, in its ad, is telling people that if everyone doesn’t help stop the spread it’s going to get harder for everyone to get help when they need it most.Kingston said that the health system has not been forced to turn away any patients yet.”We have not had to do that, but we are looking at a very difficult winter,” Kingston said. Advocate Aurora has been shifting staff throughout its system to keep up, but many hospitals can’t do that.All of them, even large health systems, say they are stretched to their limits and are warning things could get worse unless more people get vaccinated and take steps to reduce hospitalizations.Sign up for coronavirus email alerts from WISNGet breaking news alerts with the WISN 12 app.Follow us: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube
At least two Milwaukee-area hospital systems say they’re postponing elective surgeries because of the recent COVID-19 case surge.
Continuing Coverage: Coronavirus in Wisconsin
The latest numbers from the Wisconsin Hospital Association show southeast Wisconsin hospitals have admitted 43 COVID-19 patients in the past day.
There are 134 intensive care unit beds available across 31 hospitals in the area.
A surge in COVID-19 hospitalizations is having a ripple effect on other health needs.
Froedtert Hospital said, “We have been forced to delay some deferrable surgical procedures that require beds in our hospitals.”
ProHealth Care says its two Waukesha County hospitals are full or nearly full and “continue to postpone select elective surgeries.”
And the area’s biggest hospital system is pleading for help from the public.
Advocate Aurora took the extraordinary step of placing a full-page ad to say its beds are full, its wait times are long, and its doctors and nurses are hurting.
“We’re just seeing a huge surge in cases of COVID. And we can’t stop this by ourselves,” said Mary Beth Kingston, Advocate Aurora’s chief nursing officer.
The ad, which ran in Sunday papers from Milwaukee to Green Bay to Chicago calls on everyone to get vaccinated and boosted.
All three of those health systems report the vast majority of hospitalizations are unvaccinated patients.
Dr. Jeff Pothof of UW Health said all area health systems are feeling the strain and others could soon also start postponing non-emergency surgeries and procedures.
“That would be the next thing you would start to see as hospitals desperately try to create some capacity to deal with those unexpected sick patients that are coming in,” Pothof said.
Hospitals in the Green Bay area this month have already had to turn away and transfer some patients due to the surge.
Advocate Aurora, meanwhile, in its ad, is telling people that if everyone doesn’t help stop the spread it’s going to get harder for everyone to get help when they need it most.
Kingston said that the health system has not been forced to turn away any patients yet.
“We have not had to do that, but we are looking at a very difficult winter,” Kingston said.
Advocate Aurora has been shifting staff throughout its system to keep up, but many hospitals can’t do that.
All of them, even large health systems, say they are stretched to their limits and are warning things could get worse unless more people get vaccinated and take steps to reduce hospitalizations.
Sign up for coronavirus email alerts from WISN
Get breaking news alerts with the WISN 12 app.
Follow us: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube
