Timely access to care compromised by deluge of COVID-19 cases among the unvaccinated

WALLA WALLA—The rapid increase in COVID-19 cases primarily among unvaccinated individuals hinders timely access to a broad spectrum of healthcare in Walla Walla. This is coming in the form of long wait times, delays of some non-emergency surgeries, and a higher likelihood of patients being transported to other hospitals searching for an available staffed bed.

As COVID-19 rises, Providence St. Mary Medical Center and clinics also face staffing challenges from caregivers becoming ill, struggling to secure childcare, having sick family members, or resigning from the exhaustion created by a pandemic that has continued far too long.

Healthcare officials are concerned that cases will continue to escalate with the Walla Walla County Fair and Frontier Days, and the start of school. Historically throughout the pandemic, COVID-19 cases have increased after large community events.

“If you are planning to go to the fair, please wear a mask, wash your hands frequently and take precautions,” said Dr. Christopher Hall, Chief Medical Officer at Providence St. Mary. “The Delta variant is more contagious than the flu, smallpox, and even Ebola.

Research shows that one person infected with the delta variant infects eight to nine other people. If you are not vaccinated, now is definitely the time to get it done.”

COVID-19 vaccine is widely available, accessible, and free. The Walla Walla County Department of Community Health has done extensive outreach, offers numerous vaccination clinics, and even travels to homebound individuals to provide vaccines. Learn more at https://www.covidwwc.com/

At Providence St. Mary Medical Center, 30 to 40 percent of all hospitalized patients have COVID-19, with the vast majority being unvaccinated. Find current local hospitalization numbers and the breakdown between vaccinated and unvaccinated and the numbers on ventilators at https://www.covidwwc.com/walla-walla-county.

Last week, the hospital designated an entire wing for the treatment of COVID-19. It activated its critical staffing plan, which allows the hospital to pull staff from other services in the hospital and redeploy them to inpatient care as needed.

“The spread of COVID doesn’t just affect the person who contracts it,” said Dr. Daniel Kaminsky, Walla Walla County Health Officer. “We have reached the point where it is affecting health care for everyone in this community as more and more resources are drawn into treating COVID. If you have an accident, you need a joint replacement, you are expecting a baby, your child cuts their knee and needs stitches, a family member has a heart attack or something else happens, you are likely to experience in some way the impact of COVID on hospitals and clinics.”

The severity of patients’ conditions is unusually high. The Providence St. Mary Emergency Department averaged 78 patients a day before the pandemic, now it averages more than 100. Providence Urgent Care also is at capacity. Wait times are significant in both locations, particularly in the Emergency Department. It is not unusual for a wait to exceed six hours.

Most surgeries are taking place as scheduled, but some have had to be delayed. Providence St. Mary is asking surgeons when scheduling patients to inform them that non-emergency surgeries may have to be delayed or rescheduled to free up surgery staff to assist with COVID-19 patients. Other services may also be paused if necessary.

“We want the community to know that we are here for them and will continue to do everything possible to provide the care they need,” said Louise Dyjur, Providence St. Mary Chief Nursing Officer. “Patients may see changes, particularly in wait times. We appreciate all of the patience and grace that they can give us. This is what it takes to adapt to a pandemic, and we are all in it together.”