Hospitals all over the United States are once again struggling to keep up with a rapid rise in COVID-19 patients, leaving the care of non-COVID patients in jeopardy.
In El Paso, Texas, for example, hospitalizations are up 300% in the last few weeks. According to a report from El Paso-based KVIA, it has been an especially challenging period for the area’s physicians.
Elective procedures have been canceled as a result, and some non-COVID patients in the city are being air-lifted to ICU units in San Antonio, Houston or Austin. But will that be enough?
“We are canceling every single elective procedure, but as you understand, cardiac procedures most of the time are not elective if you're having chest pains,” Juan M. Taveras, MD, a cardiologist at Las Palmas Del Sol Medical Center, told KVIA. “If you're having fainting spells because your heart is not performing well, you need those procedures performed.”
Taveras called the current scene “apocalyptic” and then offered a warning.
“This is a disaster,” he said. “People are going to start dying. As a matter a fact, they started dying already. But not because they have COVID, but because COVID has impaired the ability to deliver care.”
Click the link below for the full report from KVIA.
Michael has more than 16 years of experience as a professional writer and editor. He has written at length about cardiology, radiology, artificial intelligence and other key healthcare topics.