Impacts of RSV on Hospital Care for Pediatric Patients
Washington state is currently experiencing a large RSV wave that is impacting a broad age range of children, with a disproportionate impact on children under the age of 2. Influenza activity in Washington State is now very high and other viruses are circulating also. The strain on hospital capacity is creating a critical situation for pediatric care in our state.
The situation at Seattle Children’s
- Seattle Children’s has been experiencing record-setting census for inpatients, intensive care units (ICUs) and the Emergency Department (ED). Our capacity situation is critical.
- Our ED is operating at 100% capacity almost around the clock, and up to 300% capacity in the evenings. We expect ED volumes to increase over the next several months.
- We are rescheduling nonurgent admissions; surgical cases are being reviewed for need to admit, level of care and/or ability to safely remain in the postanesthesia care unit (PACU). Outpatient procedures and other-day surgery cases are not being screened at this time because they don’t impact inpatient capacity.