Thursday, March 26, 2020
Beaumont Health hospitals are seeing high volumes of COVID-19 patients. As of 4 p.m., March 26, Beaumont is caring for 650 patients who have tested positive for COVID-19 and 200+ patients with tests pending. The health system has already been transferring some COVID-19 patients between sites as part of the system’s overall on-going disaster plan.
“The number of patients coming to our Emergency Rooms continues to grow rapidly. We have decided to create dedicated surge capacity to care for more COVID-19 patients at locations such as Beaumont Hospital, Wayne. Also, on a limited basis, we are partnering with other Michigan health systems with capacity for COVID-19 to move patients outside Beaumont for care,” Beaumont Health CEO John Fox said.
Beaumont Health Chief Operating Officer Carolyn Wilson added, “The Beaumont, Wayne team has the expertise and ability to respond quickly to meet the needs of our COVID-19 patients. When patients come to a Beaumont hospital to seek care for COVID-19, our physicians will assess them. If the hospital does not have the capacity to care for the patient, we will transfer more COVID-19 patients to Beaumont Hospital, Wayne.”
“We continue to monitor the shifting volumes and needs of our patients and teams across Beaumont to make the best decisions,” Wilson said. “I am confident the team at our Wayne hospital is ready to serve the needs of COVID-19 patients. We are sending additional staff, supplies and equipment to help support our phenomenal team at Wayne.”
To allow more COVID-19 patients to be cared for, the Emergency Center at Beaumont Wayne and obstetrical services will be temporarily closed as soon as possible. Patients who need emergency care, even for COVID-19, should seek medical attention at the nearby Beaumont Canton Emergency Center or another hospital. Curbside Screening for COVID-19 at Beaumont, Wayne will also close.
Obstetrical services will be coordinated carefully to ensure patients receive the care they need at Beaumont Hospital, Dearborn. Patients and physicians affected by this change in obstetrical care will be contacted individually regarding next steps.
“This approach provides strong and focused care for our COVID-19 patients at Beaumont, Wayne, and reduces the pressure on our other seven hospitals,” Fox said.