The UNM Hospital staff is reportedly setting up triage tents in order to help with rising cases of respiratory syncytial virus, COVID-19, parainfluenza, rhinovirus and the flu.
"I think it's important to recognize that it's a unique time," said Dr. Jason Mitchell, chief medical officer at Presbyterian Healthcare Services told KOAT.
Packed emergency rooms and high capacity levels are a reality for healthcare workers at Presbyterian, which is located along Central Avenue.
Healthcare officials are forced to deal with the consequences of packed emergency rooms and high capacity levels. Administrators are looking for ways to handle patients and preserve resources.
But unlike the staff at UNM Hospital, officials at Presbyterian said it's not going to be in the form of tents. "We've got a variety of ways,” Mitchell said. “Nurse advice lines, telemedicine visits, a lot of different ways you can ask questions and get care in advance.”
Lovelace Medical Center is enduring a similar struggle. "It's just become exceptionally difficult to try and move patients throughout the state to find the correct level of care for these patients," Dr. Vesta Sandoval, chief medical officer for Lovelace told KOAT.
Despite the high capacity, the construction of triage tents has not been considered.
"We don't typically have a pediatric unit," Sandoval said. "However, we have opened up our neonatal units to be able to try and take overflow from the other systems for RSV."
Doctors are emphasizing the need to take precautions, like wearing a face mask, staying home when sick and getting available vaccines. "It's just very important that if you are sick, please stay home. Don't expose people to viruses," Sandoval said.
