Massive COVID outbreak causes overcrowded hospitals – NBC Boston

Massachusetts hospitals are overcrowded amid another wave of COVID-19. Patients wait hours to be seen in the emergency room and days for hospital beds. And Boston doctors expect things to get worse.

“Our health care system is in jeopardy,” said Dr. Jon Santiago of Boston Medical Center. “It was difficult before COVID, but especially in this pandemic and with this new wave. “

Santiago, a Massachusetts state representative and emergency physician, blamed the overload on several issues, including staff shortages, increased coronavirus cases and the prolonged treatment that worsened throughout the period. pandemic.

“We are looking for beds in small hospitals, but also in larger ones,” said Santaigo. “You go to any emergency department in the Commonwealth, you’ll find emergency beds, you’ll find people boarding. – waiting for a room to open – especially in psychiatric cases.”

Massachusetts is currently experiencing one of the worst peaks in coronavirus cases in the country. The delta variant has propelled an increase in COVID cases after Thanksgiving while the impact of the highly mutated omicron variant remains to be seen as it gains a foothold in Bay State.

The omicron variant was first detected in Massachusetts earlier this month. Many important questions about the highly mutated variant remain unanswered, but the World Health Organization Wednesday said the new strain could change the course of the pandemic.

Three Top Boston Doctors Share What They Learned About The New Omicron Variant And What It Means For Massachusetts.

Boston Doctors told NBC10 Boston that they already feel tthe impact of the surge during the weekly “COVID Q&A” series. Hospitals have seen an almost 134% increase in COVID-19 admissions in the past month and an increase of around 50% in the past two weeks alone. About 93% of the state’s medico-surgical surgery beds are full and 87% of intensive care beds are full.

Santiago has said he expects the situation to get worse.

“The problem is that as winter approaches, with a slight increase in the omicron variant and delta still very much present, and an increase in the flu and patients who are now trying to get the care they want. Should have got it, or tried to get it maybe months or years ago, but for some reason you have a problem, “Santiago said. “It has only gotten worse over the past two weeks and I guess it will only get worse before it gets better.”

Gov. Charlie Baker has taken action to alleviate overcrowding in hospitals by requiring providers with limited bed capacity to stay elective procedures.

Massachusetts isn’t the only state with an increase in cases and hospitalizations, it’s happening across New England these last weeks. The governors of Maine and New Hampshire announced earlier this week that they are activating the National Guard to help increase the capacity of hospitals in their states.

Asked about these announcements ThursdayBaker said he was trying to determine if the Massachusetts National Guard could be called in without further disrupting healthcare workers.

“I don’t want to take people who are citizen soldiers, who are part of the guard, who are currently working in many of these hospital stations,” Baker said. “If there is a way to bring in the Guard and involve them as an auxiliary and support group to support what is going on in the health system, we will definitely pursue that and try to put it in place. . “

State House News Service contributed to this report.