Regional Capacity Situation Update

  • Hospitals across the state have been reporting high occupancy for several months. Most major systems are well over 100% inpatient & ICU capacity.   The region is also seeing high sustained PICU census.
  • Hospitals serving adults are the most impacted and are reporting extreme levels of Emergency Department boarding and use of auxiliary spaces such as conference rooms for patient care.
  • Staffing constraints at many hospitals are further impacting bed availability.
  • Following sustained high transmission of COVID-19 in our region, we are finally seeing a plateau in transmission.

Seattle Children’s Update

  • We are currently averaging 15-18 inpatients with COVID-19, higher than during any previous wave except Omicron.
  • The Emergency Department continues to experience frequent severe to critical overcrowding.
  • There continues to be significant need for mental and behavioral health services which results in a high volume of patients boarding in the ED.
  • Given the significant challenges for hospitals statewide we have implemented a goal of no diverts.  We are striving to accept all pediatric patients appropriate for admission.
  • We have been in an active Code Yellow status for high census and capacity constraints for over a year. Our teams are working continually to improve patient flow, mitigate staffing shortages and prepare for new challenges.
  • We continue to run under a disaster incident command structure to rapidly manage issues and ensure safe care for the patients who need us.

What You Can Do

  • See patients in outpatient settings whenever appropriate. This helps hospitals maintain capacity for the sickest patients.
  • When sending a patient to Seattle Children’s Emergency Department (ED), please call our ED Communications Center first at 206-987-8899. This will help us manage and plan for necessary space and staffing. Please let the family know the ED is at full capacity to help set expectations. See our Emergency or Urgent Care Referral Guide.
  • Continue to encourage vaccination and safe gatherings.
  • Direct families who need non-urgent mental health care to org/mental-health-hub to access information and resources to support their child.