North Fairfax News

Patient Volumes Continue to Surge at Inova Hospitals

Due to another spike in flu, COVID-19, RSV and other illnesses following the Thanksgiving holiday, Inova’s hospitals are experiencing unprecedented patient volumes and strain on hospital capacity.

Inova Emergency Departments, in particular, across the system are experiencing a significant surge in patient volume and are operating at- or over-capacity. For every patient discharged another is waiting to be admitted. 

While Inova is equipped to handle the current surge, as we have always done, we need the community’s support:

• Get vaccinated for both flu and COVID-19 and boosted for COVID-19 if you’re eligible.
• Continue to practice safety measures including hand hygiene, masking, and social distancing as appropriate.
• Stay home and away from others if you or your children are not feeling well.
• Know where to go for your medical care.

In addition, patients are encouraged to consider if the hospital-based emergency department is the appropriate level of care to meet their medical needs. For emergency needs, Inova’s freestanding emergency departments provide the same level of emergency care and may have shorter wait times.  If your condition does not require emergency care, consider whether Primary Care or an Inova GoHealth Urgent Care Center is more appropriate. Inova also partners with DispatchHealth, which provides urgent medical care at your home.

If you are experiencing a life-threatening medical emergency, call 911, or go to the nearest emergency department.

Click here for guidance to determine what level of medical care you need.

Inova has the resources to continue providing seamless, world-class care to our community and have put every strategy in place to expand capacity where we can.

Original source can be found here