UPDATE: ECRMC says no more coronavirus patients
El Centro Regional Medical Center CEO says hospital cannot take any additional cases
Update: ECRMC announced Wednesday it will start taking coronavirus patients again.
EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) - The Chief Executive Officer of El Centro Regional Medical Center (ECRMC) says his hospital has no more room for coronavirus patients.
Dr. Adolpho Edward made the announcement Tuesday morning live on Facebook:
The hospital said it saw a sharp spike in COVID-19 cases Monday night.
They are currently treating 65 coronavirus patients.
“Non COVID patients coming through ambulances will still be cared for, COVID patients will have to be diverted somewhere,” said Dr. Adolphe Edward, ECRMC CEO.
With the help of Imperial County’s Emergency Medical Services, the hospital says it will be transferring at least seven patients out of the county to be treated for COVID-19.
According to ECRMC’s ceo, the hospital saw a huge spike in patients seeking help this week, adding that many were U.S. citizens coming from across the border for medical care.
“We believe they are coming from Mexicali, but they are not Mexican nationals, they are U.S. citizens. They are coming to us because unfortunately there was an announcement that hospitals there were not accepting COVID patients,” said Edward.
It is unclear where that notice came from.
According to Edward the decision has nothing to do with the capacity the hospital has to treat patients but that it comes down to resource allocation.
“We want to make sure that we don't overwhelm either one of the hospitals and overwhelm the system to the point where we can’t take care of you,” said Edward.
Edward said taking on too many COVID patients could jeopardize the health and well being of critical patients seeking services for non COVID reasons.
We reached out to Pioneers Memorial Healthcare District. The hospital says it has also seen a surge in cases and although they are not diverting covid patients right now, they said it could be a possibility in the coming days.
They currently have 22 COVID-19 patients and nine of them are in critical condition.
