SAN ANGELO, TX – As the pandemic continues to impact the country, hospitalizations have become the standard used to calculate how the virus is affecting local communities.
In Texas, the state is divided into 22 different Trauma Service Areas that report individual hospitalization rates. The data that is obtained from each service area allows local officials and Governor Abbott to make the proper determinations in regards to public health policy.
Tom Green County reported a record number of new cases over the last week with more than 800. An increase in infection rate could easily lead to more patients being hospitalized, the local health authority, Dr. James Vretis warned last month.
The Concho Valley is part of Trauma Service K and on November 4 the hospitalization was at 9.57 percent. It has increased daily since then.
As of yesterday, the hospitalization rate due to COVID-19 exceeded 10 percent. According to the Texas Department of Health Services, on Nov. 10, Service Area K had a hospitalization rate of 10.13 percent.
COVID-19 Hospitalization Rates as of 11/11/2020
Although this number has not breached the 15 percent threshold determined by Governor Abbott to force County Judge Steve Floyd to initiate shutdowns and mandate social distancing restrictions, the increase is still alarming, as the area is over two-thirds the way there.
According to Shannon officials the newly expanded hospital is ready for any contingency that may arise during the pandemic.
"Shannon has sufficient staff and are prepared to care for any type of patient," said Lyndy Stone, Public Information Officer for Shannnon. "If we identify a need, we have multiple avenues for securing additional staff including short-term contracts or working with the State."
Mayor Brenda Gunter and a number of health officials are scheduled to update the state of the city on Friday morning at the McNease Convention Center. Officials have attributed the recent increases of COVID-19 infections to universal access to COVID testing, faster antigen testing, and some have declared this the "Post-Halloween Spike," pointing at the increase of activity around Halloween celebrations and trick or treating. Across west Texas, however, the spike is significant and may point towards a new wave of COVID infections.
The Midland/Odessa service area, Trauma Service Area J, is ahead of San Angelo's area K but only by 1 point at 11.46 percent. Midland Memorial is having trouble caring for patients due to a lack of nurses.
During a Midland City Council Meeting the CNO of Midland Memorial Hospital, Dr. Kit Bredimus, shared how the hospital has dealt with the increase in patients.
"What we are experiencing now with COVID-19 is unlike anything I have ever seen," said Bredimus. "Today, we have 81 COVID patients in the hospital. We only have 14 invasive ventilators left for use. This week, we are opening a new floor to try to accommodate more and more of our own patients. Our COVID hospitalization rate is hovering around 30%, double what is considered a high hospitalization rate.
"We are desperately trying to source enough equipment and personnel to expand beyond our capacity. I am continually amazed by my team’s resilience and adaptability, but we need your help," said Bredimus.
"I am here today to implore the city council and the Mayor to take a clear and unequivocal stance on the use of masks and other minimum standard health protocols recommended by the Texas Department of State Health Services. Furthermore, I strongly encourage the city council and the Mayor to put measures in place that, if followed, have been proven to significantly reduce the spread of this virus. I want to make it clear that we healthcare workers are no longer the frontlines; we are the last line. The frontlines now belong to the community," Brediums stated.
While Midland is facing major issues, up north in Taylor County where Abilene is, the area seems to be handling COVID-19 patients better than most. Abilene's Trauma Service D only had a hospitalization rate of 7.19 percent.
Yet, even with a low hospitalization rate, Hendrick Medical Center, the "Shannon" of Abilene, made the decision to request 80 additional nurses from the state as they deal with an increasing number of patients in critical condition.
"Our ICUs are full. It’s undeniable. It’s not political, that’s a statistic," said Holland. “We have an issue. We had a problem before it has been amplified post-pandemic or post third surge.”
Compared to the hot spot of Texas, Tom Green County is doing well. El Paso that borders the Mexico city of Juarez, has a hospitalization rate of more than 40 percent and held steady for a week. The border city is currently reporting 29,118 active cases -- with 1,091 patients currently hospitalized. More than 25 percent of hospitalized patients are currently in the ICU.
According to Governor Abbott, Trauma Service Areas that surpass the 15 percent threshold may be required to reduce capacity levels in businesses and mandate additional restrictions to force citizens to comply with social distancing guidelines from the federal Centers for Disease Control.
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