Michigan children’s hospital faces capacity issues amid RSV surge

“RSV appears to have emerged earlier this year and in greater numbers this year,” said Luann Thomas Ewald, chief operating officer of CS Mott Children’s Hospital.

Hospitals in Michigan are under pressure due to the recent spike in respiratory viral (RSV) cases.

C.S. Children’s Hospital Mott in Ann Arbor, Michigan, told News that capacity was full a few weeks ago, worrying staff. As they are also anticipating an influx of children infect with the flu or Covid-19 during the winter season.

“We are 100% fill. I think we’re into week six, and RSV seems to have emerged earlier this year and in larger numbers this year,” Luan Hospital chief operating officer Thomas Ewald told ABC. our ER.”

Even though C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital is operating at full capacity, Ewald told the ABC they are trying to free up extra space to care for sick children. Use rooms normally reserved for other treatments such as blood draws, or add extra stretchers to single rooms. They are also working with other community hospitals in the state to ensure there are other options for children who need treatment.

“Some of our community hospitals have multiple cots,” says Ewald. “So what we’re really trying to do is take a statewide approach to make sure we’re taking care of these kids in our state.”

You’re not the only Michigan children’s hospital sounding the alarm.

The University of Michigan’s Sparrow Children’s Center also warned on Friday. That it was running out of beds amid a nationwide spike in RSV cases. It is also said that parents will have to wait longer at E.W. counting hospitals. Sparrows in Lansing.

The hospital noted “an average of 60 new RSV cases per days. Nearly double the current number last year,” and urged parents to do everything they could to contain the virus, including frequent hand washing. Sparrow Children’s Center and C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital also ask parents to contact their pediatrician first rather than going straight to the emergency room.

“We’re really trying to say to communities across the state of Michigan, please work with your pediatrician,” Ewald told the ABC. “Let’s also use our emergency care and only come to the ER when absolutely necessary.”