Report says Utah has worst hospital capacity in the U.S., but it may miss on some details

As states combat the coronavirus pandemic, a recent study found that Utah has the worst hospital capacity in the nation based on numbers of hospital beds and physicians, but a local official says more factors should be considered.

Insurance comparison platform QuoteWizard analyzed Kaiser Family Foundation data on hospital beds and physicians per 1,000 people. Their findings state that Utah has an average of 1.82 hospital beds and 2.11 certified physicians per 1,000 people, both of which are the fourth-worst rankings in the nation in their respective categories.

This is compared to the nation-wide average of 2.96 physicians and 2.4 hospital beds per 1,000 people. The rankings come from composite scores of hospital beds and physicians’ preparedness, the study states.

But Dave Heaton, public information officer with the Southwest Utah Public Health Department, said the study’s methodology is based on too few factors.

READ MORE:

Coronavirus updates: Southwest Utah at 37 confirmed cases as statewide count hits 1,074

Online 'symptom checker' to help Utahns decide if they should be tested for coronavirus

If you think you have coronavirus, don't call 911

“Such a narrow definition of preparedness ignores the existence of hospital preparedness plans that include surge mitigation and adapting to unusual circumstances,” he said. 

Heaton said Utah hospitals have well-thought-out pandemic plans and exercises. Each hospital has an emergency manager who coordinates with the Health Department to prepare for pandemics and other medical surge events.

He also said that for several years, local hospitals and healthcare providers have been developing and practicing responses to large-scale emergencies under the Southwest Utah Healthcare Preparedness Coalition.

This content is being provided for free as a public service to our readers during the coronavirus outbreak. Please support local journalism by subscribing to The Spectrum & Daily News.

He pointed to the Southwest Utah Health Preparedness Coalition's mission, which is to “develop and maintain collaborative planning, communication, and sharing of resources as hospitals, healthcare organizations, and communities, and to prepare as a region to deliver effective patient care during a medical surge event.”

According to the study, other low-ranking states include Idaho at number 49, Nevada at number 48 and Arizona at number 47. The highest-ranking states include West Virginia at number one, New York at number two and Pennsylvania at number three.

Because the rankings are based on per-1,000 population comparisons, some states with relatively younger and healthier populations that tend to see less per-capita demand for hospital services — Utah has the nation's youngest average age and tends to rank highly by most health measures — may suffer in the rankings simply because of demographics. 

Is Dixie prepared?

In St. George, the Intermountain Dixie Regional Medical Center has 289 licensed beds and 367 physicians, the Spectrum reported last month.

The Intermountain Dixie Regional Center has also deployed the Utah Department of Health's BLU-MED Tent, located near the emergency department in case it's needed to extend the emergency department's capacity.

Additionally, Intermountain Dixie Regional Medical Director Patrick Carroll said "hours and hours" of planning for coronavirus began in January.

That planning was part of the medical center's ongoing, month-to-month disaster planning, he said, and a pandemic is one of many things they're "constantly prepared" for.

"Disaster planning doesn't start when something like coronavirus happens," he said.

Carroll said it's difficult to predict how big an impact coronavirus will have in southwestern Utah, but the hospital's focus is on being ready for anything.

As the number of coronavirus patients increases in the area, he said the hospital will put practices in place to expedite testing, re-organize floor plans so that coronavirus patients are in the same areas and use negative pressure rooms.

Additionally, he said guidelines from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention have changed. The Spectrum previously reported that officials at all Intermountain Healthcare facilities are asking people not to enter medical buildings except to seek care for oneself.

The policy limits patients to having two visitors at a time and people under the age of 18 are encouraged not to visit, while visitors who are sick or who believe they may have possibly been exposed to coronavirus are being asked not to visit at all.

Kaitlyn Bancroft reports on faith, health, education, crime and under-served communities for The Spectrum & Daily News, a USA TODAY Network newsroom in St. George, Utah. You can reach her at KBancroft@thespectrum.com, or follow her on Twitter @katbancroft.