INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana hospital leaders are urging the public to help prevent respiratory illnesses from spreading as a combination of an unseasonably early arrival of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and influenza (flu), ongoing COVID-19 cases, and critical health care workforce shortages continue to strain hospital capacity.
According to IHA, the availability of pediatric hospital beds is the most pressing concern. Across the five largest Indiana hospitals specializing in care for children, pediatric beds were more than 70% occupied. At some of these facilities, intensive care beds for the sickest children were around 90% full.
The Association is urging families to seek care for mild symptoms and routine testing at settings other than the emergency room, such as an urgent care center or family physician’s office when possible.
Officials are asking families to:
• Avoid seeking hospital emergency care for non-emergency medical conditions, such as mild symptoms and routine testing. Seek hospital emergency care if symptoms are worrisome and emergency care is needed. Emergency medical conditions can include difficulty breathing, dehydration, and worsening symptoms.
• Immediately get vaccinated against the flu and COVID-19, if eligible. Visit www.vaccines.gov to search for vaccine availability or call your provider or the local health department.
• Be patient if seeking care through a hospital emergency department. Consider that wait times may be elevated as respiratory illnesses reach seasonal peak levels.
• Consider wearing a mask in public places including at school when you know local case rates of RSV, flu, or COVID-19 are high.
• Practice frequent and proper hand washing. Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
• Stay home if you are not feeling well.
• Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue, not your hands.
• Avoid close contact, such as kissing, shaking hands, and sharing cups and eating utensils with others.
• Clean frequently-touched surfaces such as doorknobs and mobile devices.