Cook Children’s halts surgeries, diverts patients in ‘dire’ situation amid COVID surge
Cook Children’s Medical Center in Fort Worth is halting elective surgeries and has had to divert patients from the hospital as the latest COVID-19 surge has created a staffing and bed shortage, the hospital announced in a press release Thursday.
The medical center is experiencing a shortage of pediatric beds, like many hospitals in the area, and has had to reschedule all elective surgeries that require inpatient admission to Oct. 11 or later.
There are a limited number of beds available, room is needed for critically ill children who must be hospitalized and more nurses are needed in areas like ICUs, according to the release.
“As more and more inpatient beds are needed with no end in sight, the situation is dire,” hospital officials said in the release.
Tarrant County reported 25 COVID-19 deaths and 1,564 new cases on Thursday as the latest surge fueled by the delta variant continues.
As of Thursday, Cook Children’s Medical Center has 39 COVID-19 patients in the hospital, with 13 in the ICU.
Delaying non-emergency surgeries “is not a decision our administrative team takes lightly,” said Stan Davis, chief operating officer at Cook Children’s Health Care System, in the release. “Elective surgeries are not synonymous with cosmetic or unnecessary procedures. These are children who require surgical intervention to improve their health and wellbeing. We are doing everything in our power to ensure every child who needs us is taken care of.”
The medical center is also having to divert patients when beds are not available and is taking patients from other regions whenever possible.
“It’s unfortunate that we are physically unable to care for all of the children who need us right now,” Chief Nursing Officer Cheryl Petersen said in the release. “If we have to divert a patient away from Cook Children’s, we ensure we find them an appropriate facility, though that may be several hours away from home or even in another state.”
Half of the COVID-19 patients who have been treated since the vaccine was approved for children 12 and older have been unvaccinated teenagers, and the hospital has not treated a single vaccinated patient for severe COVID-19 symptoms, according to the release.
Hospital officials recommend taking the following steps to help slow the spread of the virus:
- Send your child to school in a mask. Ask them to keep it on at all times unless outside or eating.
- All children in school over age 2 should be masking indoors.
- Quarantine all children who come in contact with a COVID+ child if unmasked and for longer than 15 minutes indoors.
- Please keep your sick children home from school.
- Postpone indoor gatherings. If you have to gather, go outside.
- Limit the number of people who can attend sporting or theatrical events at schools so there can be spacing between families.
- Stay at least 6 feet away from others outside of your immediate family.
This story was originally published September 16, 2021 at 8:04 PM.
