Critical care utilization in Central Visayas private hospitals reach ‘warning zone’ —DOH exec

The critical care utilization rate at private hospitals attending to COVID-19 in the Central Visayas region has already reached the "warning zone" of 70%, according to Department of Health-Region VII spokesperson Dr. Mary Jean Loreche on Friday.

During the DOH's virtual presser, Loreche presented a July 1 data which showed that 76.8% of isolation beds at private health facilities in the region are occupied, 74.7% of beds for severe cases are in use, and 70% of COVID ward beds are filled.

Meanwhile, the utilization rate of ICU beds and mechanical ventilators in private hospitals are still below the warning zone at 52.6% and 52.1%, respectively.

Loreche explained that the limited number of designated COVID-19 beds plays a factor in the high utilization rate figures.

"Tandaan po natin na ito pong sa mga pribadong ospital, depende po iyan sa number of beds that they have allocated for COVID-19 patients so kung maliit po ang kanilang inallocate sa atin, madali pong mapuno iyon," she said.

"We also understand where the private hospitals are also coming [from] because they need to take care also of other non-COVID patients," she added.

Nonetheless, the health official said the private hospitals are trying to increase their capacities to accommodate more COVID-19 patients.

Central Visayas' overall regional critical utilization rate is lower, compared to that of private hospitals alone, but is also nearing the warning zone.

Based on Loreche's presentation, 60.1% of isolation beds, 59.5% of beds for severe cases, 58.3% of COVID ward beds, 49.6% of ICU beds, and 47.8% of mechanical ventilators available are in use.

The DOH-Central Visayas aims to optimize the utilization of community isolation centers to decongest the hospitals.

"Makikita po natin na marami pong mga mild to moderate cases na nasa ospital po. If all of these patients can actually be brought to the isolation centers, malaking bagay po ito," she said.

As of July 3, Central Visayas is the region with the second highest reported cases of COVID-19 at 8,401, following the National Capital Region with 19,420 cases. —LDF, GMA News