Many mountain ICUs are slammed, impacting those who don't have COVID-19

HENDERSON COUNTY, N.C. (WLOS) — Hospital ICUs are slammed in the mountains, across the state, and throughout the Southeast, says Dr. Teresa Herbert of AdventHealth.

"So it really has been a strain on everyone, and it's really sad," she told News 13.

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At AdventHealth, six COVID-19 patients are being treated in the ICU. Dr. Holbert says that potentially leaves a half dozen who don't have the virus on the outside looking in.

"We still have other people with other health conditions that need intensive care, so that creates a challenge," she explained.

Holbert says the strain on staffing in intensive care units has ramped up in recent weeks.

"That has been the case for the whole of the last month. So we've been running outside of the walls of the ICU for about three weeks now. Which is quite concerning for staff, and concerning for serving our community and making sure we have enough capacity," she said.

Elsewhere in Henderson County, Pardee Hospital is also swamped. The hospital says six COVID-19 patients are being cared for in the ICU. Pardee assures the public it has the capacity to expand its ICU beds to continue to serve the community.

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In Asheville, Mission Health monitors the crisis daily and can also expand if needed.

"The overall increases we have seen in COVID-19 patients since July are similar to what other hospitals are seeing in North Carolina. This increase can cause both the COVID and non-COVID intensive care units to reach capacity at certain times," spokesperson Nancy Lindell said in a statement to News 13.

The ICU crunch leaves experts like Dr. Herbert with alarming numbers to study.

"Although the COVID case counts in our region are leveling off and dropping a little, the mortality rate-- the number of deaths we are seeing-- is rising. And we anticipate that to continue for the next several weeks," she says.

To Herbert, it's frustrating that 90 percent of the COVID admissions at AdventHealth are unvaccinated people.

"It's exhausting, and it's very discouraging when you know that some of these illnesses could have been avoided if the patients had gotten their vaccination," she said.