Hospitals in eastern North Carolina are experiencing a surge of positive COVID-19 patients, and that includes Wilson Medical Center.

In just two hours Monday morning, the number of positive COVID-19 patients hospitalized here jumped from 56 to 59, according to CEO Mark Holyoak. “It changes that fast,” he said.
“It’s an extremely busy and extremely critical time right now,” Holyoak added, saying he is concerned how high the numbers will go and what the hospital must do to accommodate the patients.

Dr. Ron Stahl, chief medical officer, said the number of COVID-19 patients at the hospital has gone from the upper 30s to the upper 50s in just four days.

“It’s an extremely busy and extremely critical time right now,” he said.

Stahl attributes the recent surge in cases to the Christmas and New Year’s holidays. He hopes that after the surge, numbers will level off and then drop.

Holyoak thinks it will still be a few more days before the holiday surge peaks.

Because of the surge across the region, Wilson Medical Center can’t transfer patients to other hospitals. The hospital is also not taking in transfers from other hospitals.

“We are taking care of the patients arriving at the doorsteps,” Stahl said, and giving them the care they deserve.

Stahl said in his career of more than 30 years, he’s never seen a time when it’s been so busy that no transfers were allowed. He’s seen times when transfers had to stop for a few hours to manage an increase in patient load, but not a hold on transfers for days.

THE SURGE

As of Monday afternoon, 10 of Wilson Medical Center’s 14 intensive care unit beds were filled with COVID-19 patients. There are others who are sick enough to be receiving oxygen and other therapies outside the ICU. Stahl said the providers and nurses are doing all they can to keep patients from needing the ICU.

There are more treatment options now for patients than there were in the spring, such as monoclonal antibody treatments, that are helping, Stahl said.

Not all of the sickest patients are elderly. In recent weeks, the hospital is treating more pediatric patients who are significantly ill and needing to be hospitalized, Holyoak said.

COVID-19 patients accounted for 59 of the hospital’s 133 patients as of Monday afternoon. To house them, the hospital has set aside several areas to keep them more separated from other patients.

The original COVID-19 unit has 22 beds. There’s an additional area in the emergency room to hold up to 10 patients until they can move to an upstairs COVID unit. On Monday afternoon, a new unit for 12 patients was being opened to accommodate even more COVID-19 patients. Other patients are in the ICU.

Hospital staffing continues to be an issue as well, Holyoak said. A shortage of registered nurses is made worse by the pandemic.

Holyoak, who started his career as a nurse, is doing some patient care and works on the floor at times. He’s also giving vaccinations. “Really, whatever’s needed,” he said.

“RN — the most important initials behind his name,” Stahl said.

Holyoak said staff members are being asked to pick up extra shifts when they can to help out, and everyone’s pitching in.

He also acknowledged the partnership of nursing students from Barton College, Wilson Community College and East Carolina University, who have continued to do their clinicals at the hospital during the pandemic.

Stahl assured the community that staff will still take care of patients who arrive with chest pain or in labor or with other emergencies.

“That has not changed from a standpoint of meeting the needs of the community,” he said.

But with a surge of patients, the wait time might be longer in the emergency room, Stahl added. “We don’t like that one bit. We are doing the very best we can to take care of your needs in a timely fashion.”

Stahl emphasized how important it is to check with your primary doctor when possible before going to the hospital to make sure an emergency room visit is necessary.

‘Wear a mask’

Stahl said the hospital has amazing employees truly dedicated to their profession. “But I need them to be able to take a breath.” He asked for the community’s help to stop the cases from growing.

“We beg of you, please wear your mask all the time you are outside your home, particularly when you are in an environment with other people.”

Wash your hands, use sanitizer and socially distance, he said, and avoid large groups.

Stahl said he hasn’t seen his two youngest children who live in New York for more than a year. “I’m not going there, and they’re not coming here,” he said.

Holyoak encouraged residents to be careful at mealtimes to follow guidelines about washing hands and wearing masks when not actively eating.

If you have tested positive or are quarantined, “please stay home,” Stahl said.

Both Stahl and Holyoak have completed their vaccinations and urge others to do the same when it’s their turn. Vaccinations are continuing with hospital staff, they said.

The hospital is doing an amazing amount of work and patient care, Stahl added.

“This is something none of us have seen before,” he said. “We really need everyone to understand the importance of getting through this. Help us help the community.”