COVID-19 hospitalizations still at very high levels

As the current wave of the coronavirus pandemic drags on, hospitals are still seeing markedly high levels of COVID-19-infected patients.

At all southwest Riverside County hospitals and Fallbrook’s nearest San Diego County hospital, a majority of hospitalized patients were coronavirus-positive, according to data released by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Sunday, Jan. 17; per that data, 55% of patients at Temecula Valley Hospital; 59% of patients at Southwest Healthcare System, which includes Inland Valley and Rancho Springs medical centers in Wildomar and Murrieta, respectively; 63% of patients at Loma Linda University Medical Center Murrieta and 51% of patients at Palomar Medical Center Escondido had COVID-19 in the week leading up to Jan. 17.

Those percentages are up slightly from the week before for Southwest Healthcare System and Loma Linda University Medical Center Murrieta, down a percentage point for Temecula Valley Hospital and unchanged for Palomar Medical Center Escondido.

There was an average of about four fewer COVID-19-positive adults at Temecula Valley Hospital in the seven days before Jan. 17, about four more at Southwest Healthcare System, about 20 more at Loma Linda University Medical Center Murrieta and about four more at Palomar Medical Center Escondido.

Each hospital was at or close to ICU capacity in the week preceding Jan. 17, with an average of 27.6 ICU beds used out of 28.4 at Temecula Valley Hospital, 38.6 out of 39.3 at Southwest Healthcare System, 16.9 out of 18 at Loma Linda University Medical Center Murrieta and 35.7 out of 36.3 at Palomar Medical Center Escondido.

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:

Loma Linda University Medical Center Murrieta

Total beds (Seven-day average): 164 (unchanged from last week)

Total inpatient beds used (Seven-day average): 128 (110.9 last week)

Total adults hospitalized, confirmed COVID-19 positive (Seven-day average): 88.7 (67.7 last week)

ICU beds (Seven-day average): 18 (unchanged from last week)

ICU beds used (Seven-day average): 16.9 (12.7 last week)

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

Total beds (Seven-day average): 251.7 (268.3 last week)

Total inpatient beds used (Seven-day average): 236.4 (234.4 last week)

Total adults hospitalized, confirmed COVID-19 positive (Seven-day average): 137 (133.9 last week)

ICU beds (Seven-day average): 39.4 (36.6 last week)

ICU beds used (Seven-day average): 38.6 (36.6 last week)

Temecula Valley Hospital

Total beds (Seven-day average): 161.6 (159.9 last week)

Total inpatient beds used (Seven-day average): 145 (144 last week)

Total adults hospitalized, confirmed COVID-19 positive (Seven-day average): 76.6 (80 last week)

ICU beds (Seven-day average): 28.4 (26.5 last week)

ICU beds used (Seven-day average): 27.6 (25.7 last week)

Palomar Medical Center Escondido

Total beds (Seven-day average): 392 (unchanged from last week)

Total inpatient beds used (Seven-day average): 280.1 (285.6 last week)

Total adults hospitalized, confirmed COVID-19 positive (Seven-day average): 143. 7 (140 last week)

ICU beds (Seven-day average): 36.3 (36 last week)

ICU beds used (Seven-day average): 35.7 (35 last week)

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