By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — UW Health officials said Tuesday that the latest surge in coronavirus cases could overwhelm its hospitals in Rockford and Madison that are already stretched thin nearly two years into the pandemic.
The rapid spread of the omicron variant has pushed total coronavirus cases to new highs across the country, and in Rockford testing sites have had long lines of cars following the holiday weekend.
If the trend continues, UW Health might not have resources to care for the number of patients it’s seeing, Dr. Jeff Pothof, emergency physician and chief quality officer for UW Health in Madison, said in a news release.
“Our staff have been incredible, and they continue to provide the best care even in these difficult circumstances, but ultimately we are struggling to accommodate the volume of patients we’re seeing, and that volume is increasing,” he said.
At UW Health SwedishAmerican Hospital, there were 111 patients being treated for COVID-19 symptoms on Tuesday afternoon, according to a hospital representative. That’s just two fewer than the record number being treated roughly three weeks ago.
Related: ‘Our health care system is exhausted’: SwedishAmerican treating record number of COVID patients
“When hospitals are as full as ours is right now, access to doctors and a bed when you have a heart attack, a stroke or a car accident are a major concern,” Pothof said. “We’re dangerously close to the point where there just aren’t resources for all of those cases. You think it can’t happen to you, but it can if we continue to stay on this trajectory.”
The health care system said it is reducing the number of non-essential procedures it schedules to help ensure staff are available for urgent needs. It also continues to convert existing space in its hospitals to accommodate more COVID patients. The hospital said supplies are sufficiently stocked, but it is concerned about having enough staff to care for patients with critical needs.
Pothof urged vaccination. In Winnebago County, 54.5% of the residents are vaccinated, according to Winnebago County Health Department data released Tuesday. More than 60% of Illinois residents are vaccinated, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health.
Doctors in Rockford have said for weeks that the vast majority of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 have not been vaccinated.
“Do it for yourself, your family, your friends, and for the nurses and doctors who are watching hospital beds fill up and don’t want to have to find one for you,” Pothof said.
This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on Twitter at @KevinMHaas.