Lee Health officials on Thursday detailed struggles the health care system currently is facing when it comes to capacity levels.

As of Thursday morning, Lee Health hospitals were filled to 108% of staffed operational bed capacity when including those in the emergency department waiting for bed placement, officials said.

“Unfortunately, things continue to get worse as it relates to our capacity,” said Lee Health President and CEO Dr. Larry Antonucci at a press conference Thursday. “We were hoping that with the Omicron surge beginning to dissipate, that we would see better capacity here, but it really hasn’t happened.”

Antonucci said that on Wednesday, as well as Thursday, capacity levels were at the 108% mark. While it’s not unusual to see an uptick in patient care during season, the more than 200 patients with COVID-19 puts an even larger strain on Lee Health. Antonucci said when Lee Health was dealing with 600-plus COVID patients during the Delta surge in the summer, they were able to keep capacity levels stable due to the absence of seasonal residents. The highest volume of patients Lee Health experienced during the Delta peak was 1,674. On Thursday, that number was at 1,696.

Antonucci added that Lee Health has an “elaborate surge plan in place that we are working on every single day, in fact, every single hour.”

Lee Health continues to temporarily suspend elective procedures that require an overnight stay to free up bed space. Additionally, they’ve opened up Golisano Children’s Hospital to patients up to age 29. Lee Health has utilized mobile units for those who need medical assistance, but not necessarily a hospital. Lee TeleHealth continues to be free for residents to speak with a provider from the comfort of their home.

Lee Health announced the launch of a public health campaign encouraging community members to “know where to go.”

“It’s very important that our patients seek the right venue of care so that it can be delivered in the most efficient way,” Antonucci said.

Chief Officer of Hospital Operations and Women and Children’s Services at LeeHealth, Armando Llechu, said, “Today’s message is not that Lee Health is too busy to care for you. Today’s message is that we want you to seek the right care in the right location.

“Our urgent care centers and emergency rooms are overrun by patients coming in for sometimes symptoms that do not require a visit to urgent care or the ER. If you are having mild COVID symptoms, I would ask you to please leverage our free telehealth service.”

Llechu said of course those experiencing major COVID and repertory symptoms should of course come to the emergency room.

He reminded those that do go to urgent care or the ER that patients with the most severe ailments are seen first.

“If you are coming in for a minor condition, you are likely to wind up waiting longer than you expected or longer than you’d like,” Llechu said. “During that wait, please be kind. Please know that those (health care employees) are dealing with volumes of patients that we have never seen before as a health system, and they are all doing the best that they can. Show them some respect, show them some gratitude.”

By the Numbers

As of Thursday morning, there were 237 COVID-19 patients isolated at Lee Health inpatient hospitals. Of those patients, five are being treated at Golisano Children’s Hospital.

As of Thursday morning, hospital census was at 108% of staffed operational bed capacity. Staffed operational capacity reflects the number of beds for which the hospital has adequate staffing, not the total number of beds within Lee Health hospitals. Overall bed capacity fluctuates hour to hour as the system discharges patients throughout the day who are ready to go home. Census in the intensive care unit was at 93% of staffed operational bed capacity on Thursday. There were 33 COVID-19 patients in the ICU.

On Wednesday, Lee Health emergency departments saw 841 patients.

Officials added that Lee TeleHealth is currently free and an easy alternative to avoid longer than normal wait times at urgent care centers.

Lee Health is making this service free for community members so they can utilize urgent care telehealth services from the comfort of their homes. This option allows anyone with non-life-threatening COVID-19 symptoms to avoid long COVID-19 testing lines, Lee Convenient Care locations and the emergency department. Lee Health emergency departments are not designated COVID-19 testing locations. The normal cost of a visit is $49.

“Lee TeleHealth is an on-demand medical service that connects patients directly with a physician or advanced provider and is available 24/7,” officials said. “All you need to use Lee TeleHealth is a smartphone, tablet or a computer with a webcam.”

To access Lee Telehealth, download the Lee Health app or visit www.LeeTelehealth.org.

–Connect with this reporter on Twitter: @haddad_cj