Idaho health officials deactivate crisis of care standards, except in these counties
After two months of strain on Idaho’s health care systems due to COVID-19, Idaho received some positive news.
Idaho has deactivated crisis standards of care statewide, but kept crisis standards regionally in North Idaho, the Department of Health and Welfare said in a news release Monday. During crisis standards, hospitals may choose to ration health care based on patients’ prognosis.
But public health experts cautioned the public that the shift to contingency standards — just one level below crisis standards — in most parts of the state was not “mission accomplished.” They urged members of the public to continue following protocols, such as wearing masks in public, and to get vaccinated against COVID-19 if they haven’t already to avoid another surge.
Dr. Patrice Burgess, Saint Alphonsus executive medical director, emphasized that the best way to remain out of crisis standards of care is for more members of the public to receive the vaccine.
“We are really pleading with everyone to do their part so that we don’t have this momentary relief and then go right back into a bad situation,” Burgess said at a media briefing Monday.
Coronavirus cases have been trending downward in recent weeks, and in the past couple of weeks, hospital systems like St. Luke’s have expressed optimism that they would soon leave crisis standards.
Though the number of COVID-19 patients remains high, state health officials said the surge no longer exceeds available resources in most areas.
For the week of Nov. 7, the most recent data available, Idaho’s rate of positive tests was 7.2%. Two months ago, that figure was 17.3%, and the rate has declined every week since. In mid-October, Idaho health officials reported the state had a 7-day moving average of nearly 1,400 cases. Now, as of Nov. 19, that moving average is below 500 cases.
Counties still engaged in crisis standards are in the Panhandle Health District — Kootenai, Boundary, Bonner, Benewah, and Shoshone counties.
North Idaho was the first region to activate crisis standards of care, back on Sept. 7. The rest of the state followed suit days later, activating crisis standards of care on Sept. 16.
During crisis standards of care, hospitals normally prioritize care based on individual needs. When crisis standards are active, hospitals provide care to patients who are most likely to survive.
Dr. Jim Souza, St. Luke’s chief medical officer, thanked health care workers and said their efforts that saved thousands of patients’ lives “is nothing short of remarkable.”
“It’s important that we mark this moment, this moment in time when we honor what was done, reflect on what we learned, and use that again to pivot to the future and avoid repeating the past,” Souza said.
This story was originally published November 22, 2021 at 10:12 AM.
