‘Occupancy pressures’ holding back Hamilton hospital from resuming non-urgent procedures

COVID-19-related hospitalizations and intensive care admissions across Ontario are behind the decision to lift Directive 2 – an initiative issued last month ordering hospitals to pause non-urgent and non-emergent surgeries and procedures.

Timeline to lift all COVID-19 measures in Ontario coming soon, top doctor says But Hamilton Health Sciences’ president says “occupancy pressures” will hold back the city’s largest network with acute occupancy rates over 100 per cent at two of its major hospitals.“As we continue to face occupancy pressures well over 100 per cent and as high as 120 per cent of some of our sites, like the Juravinski, particularly, Hamilton Health Sciences is not yet in a position to resume business as usual or services on any significant scale,” HHS’s Rob MacIsaac told staff in a town hall.MacIsaac revealed ramp-up plans are proceeding “cautiously and gradually” but said a resumption of the services is not in the cards yet until executives are certain access to urgent and emergent care will not be affected.As of Thursday, combined Hamilton’s hospitals are treating 164 COVID patients – about 60 less than the same day last week.There are 19 patients in intensive care units (ICU), representing 15 less than last Thursday.HHS total adult ICU occupancy rate is at 89 per cent as of Feb.

10, while St. Joseph’s is reporting 104 per cent.EVP and chief operating officer Sharon Pierson revealed patient volumes at HHS sites are now flat and returning to pre-pandemic numbers.However, occupancy rates are still over 100 per cent affected by longer stays from COVID patients slowing discharges of patients from their hospitals.As of Thursday, the network had more than 200 alternate level of care (ALC) patients – those.