Tulsa Hospitals Respond As County Enters Tier 3 Of State's Surge Plan

The Oklahoma State Department of Health reports hospital in Tulsa County have reached the third tier in the state's hospital surge plan.

Saint Francis Hospital said COVID-19 hospitalizations are continuing on an unsustainable trajectory throughout Oklahoma and that the state is at a critical point.

Regions within the state move to a higher tier depending on how many of its staffed hospital beds are used by COVID-19 patients, including medical, surgical and ICU beds. Tier 3 means 20-40% of the region's staffed hospital beds are held by COVID-19 patients for three consecutive days.

Hillcrest said tier three does not require any immediate change, but they will continue to monitor numbers. Hillcrest gave News On 6 this statement, saying,

“We have a surge plan in place and are evaluating numbers hourly every day. This new phase requires no immediate changes but we continue to evaluate capacity, staffing needs and resources to provide care to all patients.”

Saint Francis Hospital issued this statement, saying,

This week, as our region entered Tier III status, the health system marked another all-time high number of 181 hospitalized patients with COVID-19.

As a state, our COVID-19 hospitalizations continue on an unsustainable trajectory and we are at a critical point. Our rolling seven-day average positivity rate is 28 percent. If these rates remain this high, hospitalizations will continue to increase—as will the strain on hospitals, health systems and our healthcare workers.

We continue to urge our community to do everything they can to prevent the continued surge of COVID-19 and protect those most vulnerable.

Please wear a mask. Even when it’s inconvenient. Even if you think you’re safe. And even if there isn’t a mandate.