TidalHealth has suspended patient visits effective De. 27 at both TidalHealth Peninsula Regional in Salisbury and TidalHealth Nanticoke in Seaford.
At the same time, a temporary pause at both hospitals for elective, non-emergency surgeries that require an overnight stay is going into effect.
The hospitals are in an area with lower vaccination rates. Earlier this week, the hospital released a post citing a critical situation driven by Covid and treatment of other illnesses and injuries.
Other hospitals in the region have been pausing some elective surgeries, due to few if any patient beds being available.
“A spike in Covod-19 cases, other seasonal illnesses, and the many health needs of our communities, coupled with unprecedented workforce constraints have come together to create a perfect storm for healthcare providers,” said Dr. Sarah Arnett, vice president of patient care services and chief nursing officer at TidalHealth. “We are taking these steps for the safety of our patients and our healthcare team.”
Arnett noted that a directive from the state of Maryland, a sharp increase in Covid-19 rates, high patient volumes, and demand for hospital beds at TidalHealth led to the decision to pause certain surgeries.
“While the state of Delaware has not issued a similar directive, Covid-19 admissions and the strain caused by the census at TidalHealth Nanticoke made it necessary for the Seaford hospital to follow the same surgical reduction plan as the Salisbury hospital. The COVID-19 omicron variant and the continued presence of the Delta variant are driving high rates of transmission and hospitalization,” said Steve Leonard, TidalHealth CEO. “Getting vaccinated can reduce the severity of illness and the risk of transmission and will help take the pressure off our extremely busy facilities.”
A clinical team is evaluating all non-emergency, non-life-threatening surgeries requiring an overnight stay and those that can be postponed will be. Patients affected by the pause are being notified ahead of time by their surgeon’s office.
Exceptions to the current no-visitors policy will include end-of-life visitation and disabled people who need a support person, as well as labor & delivery/mother-baby patients..
