Conditions ‘strained,’ but Bellingham hospital meeting demand with record 79 COVID patients

St. Joseph’s hospital in Bellingham reported that it treated a pandemic record 79 patients for symptoms related to COVID-19 on Tuesday, Jan. 18. That was up nine patients from the day-old pandemic record 70 patients it treated a day earlier on Martin Luther King Jr. Day and up more than 43% from the 55 patients it reported during a snapshot on Friday, Jan. 14. Before the start of 2022, the hospital had not had more than 42 COVID-related patients during its daily snapshot, but it has surpassed that mark every day except Jan. 1 so far this year.

“As far as treatment goes, there is no difference between treating 40 COVID patients and 80 — they all require more intensive care, based on their symptoms, as well as full protection for themselves and the staff caring for them,” PeaceHealth Northwest Chief Medical Officer Dr. Sudhakar Karlapudi told The Bellingham Herald in an emailed statement Tuesday. “Although conditions are strained, and definitely not within normal operating parameters, we are managing well to meet the needs with appropriate staffing, supplies and space."

Karlapudi reported that in addition to the hospital’s Intensive Care Unit, a regular nursing unit has been turned into an area treating only COVID-related patients, and several other dedicated COVID beds in portions of other units have been identified. Additionally, the hospital is building a temporary structure under the overhang in the Emergency Department’s driveway in anticipation of a sustained COVID patient surge, Karlapudi wrote.