Lee Health addresses concerns of nearing peak hospital capacity

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Lee Health
Lee Health Regional Cancer Center. (Credit: WINK News)

Lee Health is experiencing a large influx of patients that has overwhelmed staff.

Though some have assumed another COVID-19 spike, this was not verified at the press conference, where the increase in emergency visits was described as “seasonal.”

According to Lee Health, around 1,000 people had visited the emergency departments on Tuesday.

Hospital officials held the press conference Wednesday at 11 a.m., to at least explain what potential patients can do as an alternative to the hospital’s emergency room.

Dr. Iahn Gonsenhauser, Chief Medical Officer with Lee Health spoke during the conference about the alternative services available for those who may not be experiencing emergency symptoms.

He then continued to mention that those who experience an emergency will be cared for first and that people who do not have emergency symptoms will have longer wait times.

Lee Health.org has a variety of helpful links for users that will help accurately direct a person to the correct medical service facility.

Patients are encouraged to use the MyChart application to help lessen wait times by checking in for their clinical appointments.

If a person is not experiencing an emergency, Gonsenhauser asked that they refer to their primary physician to discuss symptoms they are experiencing.

He then asked people who may have mild COVID-19 symptoms to not immediately visit the emergency services but rather utilize the alternative services mentioned before.

The system is running close to capacity, with hospital beds becoming a commodity, according to a spokesperson from Lee Health.

Around the same time last year, the system had reached its peak due to an increase in Flu and RSV cases, with many too sick to go to an urgent care or doctor.

WINK News Anchor Nicole Gabe and Medical Investigator Amy Oshier sat down to help breakdown the press conference and explain the alternative facilities one can visit when feeling ill.

You can watch the full press conference below.

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