SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — A new tool on the state website reveals that a growing number of South Dakota hospitals are running out of room for patients who need intensive care.
Everyday, South Dakota’s health systems let the state know how many patients are hospitalized; how many of those have COVID-19 and how many staffed beds are available. The state posts all of that information online. Since patient numbers fluctuate, health officials describe it as a snapshot of what’s happening at a given time.
Last week, in a KELOLAND.com original report, we explained that South Dakota’s daily totals included, not just adult beds, but also ICU beds for babies.
Since a majority of COVID-19 patients are adults, the state is now separating them.
Here’s a look at how that change is affecting statewide numbers.
As of Thursday morning, nearly 32 (31.8) percent of the state’s staffed ICU beds were available.
When you don’t include the pediatric beds, that number drops to 15.5 percent available.
In the Sioux Empire region, nearly 33-percent (32.8) of staffed ICU beds were available, but most were designated by the state as pediatric ICU beds for children and babies. The DOH says those beds can be occupied by adults.
About 8 percent of adult beds were available.
In the latest report, Avera McKennan had less than seven percent (6.9%) of staffed adult beds available in its ICU.
A handful of South Dakota’s other hospitals did not have any open beds for adults in their ICUs, including Sanford USD medical center (Sioux Falls), Monument Health (Rapid City), St. Mary’s (Pierre), Prairie Lakes (Watertown) and Sanford Aberdeen.
Keep reading
Your Guide To
Coronavirus
KELOLAND News is covering the COVID-19 pandemic. This is your guide to everything you need to know to prepare. We also have the latest stories from across the globe feeding into this page.
LATEST STORIES
- Minnehaha County waits on pipeline moratorium“The PUC meets May 24 and we want to wait until after that,” the county’s assistant commission administrator officer Tyler Klatt said.
- Kidnapping victim passes note to KFC worker begging for helpA man has been charged with kidnapping and evading arrest after officers say the victim begged for help from a KFC employee.
- Crib bumper ban: Products blamed in baby deaths can no longer be soldCrib bumpers and inclined sleepers blamed in more than 200 baby deaths will soon be banned.
