YRMC CEO: “We are not at capacity”

The 406-bed hospital confirmed as of Thursday, only 42% of its ICU was filled with COVID-19 patients.

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - For the first time, News 11 confirms a total of 106 COVID-19 patients have been discharged from Yuma Regional Medical Center (YRMC) since the coronavirus hit Yuma County.

Roughly 11% of the people tested for COVID-19 in Yuma County have tested positive.

According to YRMC, somewhere between 60% and 80% of people with the virus are not hospitalized.

The hospital reassures the community it has this virus under control.

CEO and President of YRMC, Dr. Robert Trenschel, said, “We are not at capacity.”

The 406-bed hospital confirmed as of Thursday, only 42% of its ICU was filled with COVID-19 patients.

Since the hospital’s first case of the virus in March, over a hundred hospitalized COVID patients have bounced back, and are no longer in hospital care.

However, YRMC tallies 14 total deaths, confirming not all were Yuma County residents.

“If a patient comes here from California we’re going to care for them. If a patient comes from across the border and wound up on our doorstep, we’re going to care for those particular patients as well,” Dr. Trenschel said.

YRMC's CEO sited several alternative options to open up bed-space in the event the hospital ever reaches capacity.

This includes nearly 30 additional ICU beds in the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) and the cardiac catheterization lab.

As the impact of COVID-19 has amplified, Dr. Trenschel stands firm that the surge is not unexpected and it’s something his staff is accustomed to.

He added, “Every year we get an extra hundred thousand people that come to Yuma [winter visitors] and we’re used to having to staff up to deal with those patients."

Dr. Trenschel says the hospital will continue utilizing the Arizona surge line, more specifically for nursing home and inmate patients, who oftentimes require a higher level of care.