Baptist South, Beaches add 100 COVID ward beds to deal with ‘3rd patient surge’

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Baptist Health reported its highest number this week of COVID-19 patients in intensive care with 107 in ICU at its five hospitals on Saturday.

As the health system battles its “third patient surge” with 560 patients across its five hospitals, its Baptist South and Baptist Beaches facilities have now added more than 100 beds in their COVID wards.

According to numbers released by the Florida Hospital Association, the state reported 13,348 total COVID-19 hospitalizations as of Saturday.

Baptist said the need for the beds at its two hospitals was anticipated by its Epidemic Response Plan, which predicts surges in patient volumes and helps the hospitals be prepared for them.

“It makes sense to be prepared, and it’s unfortunate that we’re in this situation, but we are,” said Dr. Sunil Joshi, an immunologist with Baptist Health.

Baptist said 14 of the 560 COVID-19 patients it’s treating in its health system are at Wolfson Children’s Hospital, and five of those children are now in the ICU.

Baptist said 76 new COVID-19 positive patients were admitted Friday, and four of those new patients were children.

These numbers are the reason why Avery Foreman decided to tell his 15-year-old to get the vaccine before heading back to school next week.

“We have a high-risk person at home, so we want to make sure everyone’s staying safe,” Foreman said.

More than 90% of the current COVID patients at Baptist age 12 and older are not fully vaccinated, the hospital said.

Joshi said last year at this time, we weren’t seeing hospitals numbers this high.

“I mean, obviously, the whole goal was to prevent hospitals from getting, oh, you know, towards capacity. But I don’t think we ever got to the point where we are worried about it here locally,” Joshi said. “And now, you know, that’s all we think about.”

Joshi said the peak of COVID cases is much steeper this year.

“Last year, remember, the key words were ‘flatten the curve,’ so it doesn’t get so high that, you know, we overrun hospitals,” Joshi said. “It just seems like we’re going up much faster and much steeper. That’s such a concern because if it keeps going up at this level is when the hospitals could get over capacity.”

Baptist Health said the expanded areas at both Baptist South and Baptist Beaches were previously “shell space” with walls, windows, an HVAC system and restrooms, but no interior improvements or finishes.

Baptist said each patient space can support high-flow oxygen equipment, IV pumps, beds and monitors needed for patients to receive the same care they would receive in a traditional unit.

“While this is not aesthetically appealing, the clinical care provided is excellent given our experience and commitment to making room to care for all patients in need,” Baptist said.