Hospitals

COVID numbers have reportedly remained low in Mountain West psychiatric hospitals however, there are a few that are skeptical of this number.

St. Luke's Health System says it has resumed non-emergency procedures delayed since September by the large number of pandemic patients.

Of COVID-19 cases recorded in Idaho since mid-May, 89.1% have been among unvaccinated people, according to IDHW. For hospitalizations in the past six month, 90.3% have been unvaccinated, and 88% of people who died due to COVID were not fully vaccinated.

With hospitals around the state full, North Canyon is having a much tougher time transferring patients out who need higher levels of care. And the transfers are needed more frequently — about once per day.

It's Friday — which means it's time for our Reporter Roundtable. Our panel of reporters will get you up-to-date on the headlines of this past week. On today's show: ICU capacity, COVID-19 in rural hospitals, increasing evictions, the Boise Farmers Market going virtual and more.

COVID-19 case numbers and deaths continue to climb, putting Idaho among the worst in the nation for the rate of new diagnoses. Idaho Matters is joined by two medical experts to unpack the current state of the coronavirus crisis.

Idaho Matters Friday Reporter Roundtable unpacks all the news from the week — from the headlines to what you may have missed.

As of Thursday morning, the entire state of Idaho is now in crisis standards of care. These guidelines help medical professionals in hospitals decide who should get life saving care — and who may not with resources severely strained.

Last week, Idaho health officials activated crisis standards of care for North Idaho, and on Thursday expanded the declaration statewide. Other states and healthcare systems in the region, including the Billings Clinic, are considering similar emergency measures.

Idaho hospitals are struggling with staffing shortages as record numbers of COVID-19 patients arrive for treatment, and they’re calling on volunteers to fill the void.