NCH breaks record for number of admitted COVID-19 patients

COVID hospital admissions at NCH broke a record on Wednesday with 149 patients currently being treated at their hospitals after testing positive.

The patients range in age from 17 to 100, with a median of 57.

Of the total number of patients, 123, or about 83%, are unvaccinated, according to figures published on the hospital system’s website. The numbers change throughout the day.

Of that number, 29 patients are in the ICU, with 13 of those on ventilators.

The total number of inpatient admissions of 149 does not include people who have been admitted to the ER, tested positive and then discharged.

A month ago, most people at NCH hoped the worst was past. But now, hospital leaders are talking about a surge plan because its intensive care units are nearing capacity.

The previous record set by NCH of COVID cases was more than a year ago on July 15, 2020, when 144 patients were isolated in their hospitals with COVID-19.

“There’s no political statements here,” said Dr. Carlos Quintero, chief quality officer at NCH. “This is just the facts that we’re trying to, to speak to you from a health perspective that the vaccines do help keep our patients out of the hospital.”

How to handle COVID has become a political question as much as a medical one as Gov. Ron DeSantis held a roundtable with medical officials on Wednesday.

“The solution is to get vaccinated,” said Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry. “I’m not suggesting that we coerce or force or mandate people to get vaccinated but we keep working together.”

Quintero said he expects this latest surge, fueled by the delta variant, could last several more weeks.

“We’re not seeing the end yet,” Quintero said.

Hospitalizations are climbing.

“We know that the new variant is affecting younger people. And one of the reasons why we’re also seeing a younger patient population being affected is because this is the higher percentage of people that are not vaccinated are the younger or the younger patients,” Quintero said.

Lee Health President and CEO Larry Antonucci said the numbers the hospital system is seeing is disconcerting.

“It’s troubling,” Antonucci said.

Lee Health is also battling a staffing shortage, Antonucci said.

To combat that, the hospital chain is offering incentives for those who work extra shifts.

At NCH, managers and directors are on the frontline helping with patient care and the hospital is also increasing pay for frontline staff.