July 9, 2020 / ALEX KACIK
More than a dozen HCA Healthcare hospitals in Florida will delay certain inpatient surgeries and procedures as the state experiences an uptick in COVID-19 hospitalizations.
Florida is one of several states that has seen a significant increase in COVID-19 cases and related inpatient stays. The number of confirmed cases in Florida ballooned from around 100,000 on June 22 to more than 223,000 as of July 8, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. Only around 14% of adult intensive care beds in Florida are available, with 46 hospital ICUs at full capacity, Agency for Health Care Administration data show.
“The number of COVID cases in our hospitals are increasing daily, and we need to ensure that our caregivers and hospitals are in a position to provide safe, effective, and compassionate care to our patients. We will continue to monitor the situation closely, making adjustments as necessary,” Dr. Ravi Chari, president of HCA Healthcare West Florida Division, said in prepared remarks, emphasizing that HCA’s emergency departments are safe for those experiencing a medical emergency.
