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HHS data shows local hospitals nearly full

Local hospitals in North County and Southwest Riverside County hospitals are nearly full, and intensive care units are slammed with patients as the coronavirus pandemic continues to rage, according to the latest data from the United States Department of Health and Human Services.

Per data released on Jan. 3, 51% of patients at Palomar Medical Center in Escondido, the closest San Diego County hospital to Fallbrook, were positive for COVID-19.

In addition, 45% of patients at Temecula Valley Hospital, 53% of patients at Southwest Healthcare System and 66% of patients at Loma Linda University Medical Center Murrieta, all of which are in Riverside County, have tested positive for COVID-19. Southwest Healthcare System includes both Inland Valley and Rancho Springs medical centers in Wildomar and Murrieta, respectively.

The amounts of patients with coronavirus have increased at each of the hospitals closest to Fallbrook between the data reported Jan. 3 and the report from about a week prior on Dec. 28.

There were an average of about 17 more COVID-19-positive adults at Palomar Medical Center in the seven days prior to Jan. 3, as well as about 11 more at Temecula Valley Hospital, about 15 more at Southwest Healthcare System and about six more at Loma Linda University Medical Center Murrieta.

In the week prior to Jan. 3, Palomar Medical Center was using on average more than 100 fewer beds than the total available, but Temecula Valley Hospital and Southwest Healthcare System both were on average within 10 beds of capacity (144 beds out of 154.1 for Temecula Valley and 227.9 out of 233.7 for Southwest). Loma Linda University Medical Center Murrieta was using 99 inpatient beds out of 164.

Each hospital was at or close to ICU capacity in the week preceding Jan. 3, with an average of 34.7 ICU beds used out of a total of 36 at Palomar Medical Center, 26.9 out of 26.9 at Temecula Valley Hospital, 29.1 out of 29.7 at Southwest Healthcare System and 12.1 out of 18 at Loma Linda University Medical Center Murrieta.

The state is officially reporting the 11-county Southern California region’s available ICU capacity at 0%; while the recent data show ICUs not quite at full capacity, state officials and healthcare professionals have said over the course of the pandemic that available staff also play a role in determining ICU space.

Here is a more detailed look at some of the most recent HHS data on local hospitals:

Palomar Medical Center Escondido

Total beds (7-day average): 392

Total inpatient beds used (7-day average): 282

Total adults hospitalized, confirmed COVID-19 positive (7-day average): 144.6

ICU beds (7-day average): 36

ICU beds used (7-day average): 34.7

Temecula Valley Hospital

Total beds (7-day average): 154.1

Total inpatient beds used (7-day average): 144

Total adults hospitalized, confirmed COVID-19 positive (7-day average): 64.3

ICU beds (7-day average): 26.9

ICU beds used (7-day average): 26.9

Southwest Healthcare System (Inland Valley and Rancho Springs medical centers)

Total beds (7-day average): 233.7

Total inpatient beds used (7-day average): 227.9

Total adults hospitalized, confirmed COVID-19 positive (7-day average): 118.9

ICU beds (7-day average): 29.1

ICU beds used (7-day average): 29.7

Loma Linda University Medical Center Murrieta

Total beds (7-day average): 164

Total inpatient beds used (7-day average): 99

Total adults hospitalized, confirmed COVID-19 positive (7-day average): 69.4

ICU beds (7-day average): 18

ICU beds used (7-day average): 12.1

Will Fritz can be reached by email at [email protected].

 

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