Parkview adjusting as COVID-19 hospitalizations near record high in northeast Indiana

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WPTA) - One of the region’s two major health care providers says it is “maintaining services and access to care,” while acknowledging the strain caused by near-record high hospitalizations of COVID-19 patients.

Parkview Health on Tuesday said it has implemented new processes that are helping to maintain operations at its facilities, which include numerous full-service hospitals in the area. Steps taken include the addition of beds and staff in response to increased needs.

“Even with near record-high COVID-19 patient volumes, we remain committed to doing everything we can to meet the needs of our community,” said Dr. Jeffrey Boord, the chief quality and safety officer for Parkview Health. “Our teams constantly assess capacity and operational flow. With rapidly rising COVID-19 activity, we are continuously adding beds and staff to care for more patients than we’ve ever seen in our hospitals before.

“We need the community to know that delaying care, whether for COVID-19 or for other needs, is not safe and often leads to increased severity of symptoms, However, it’s critical that we slow the spread of COVID-19 and reduce the impact this surge is having on area resources, especially our valued co-workers.”

The most recent surge in serious COVID-19 cases has placed added stress on health care providers. The South Bend Tribune on Monday reported that Goshen Hospital, for example, just transferred one patient more than 200 miles because of the shortage of options closer to home,” Chief Medical Officer Dr. Dan Nafziger told the newspaper.

IU Health, Indiana’s largest health care system, has requested assistance from the Indiana National Guard. No such steps have been taken by Parkview Health or Lutheran Health Network, which dominate the local hospital business.

Both say they are monitoring conditions daily and making adjustments as needed.

“We are grateful for our care teams and support staff who continue to demonstrate world-class teamwork to care for the community,” Boord said.