M. Health Fairview said its hospitals are overcrowded due to the so-called “quademic” caused by an influx of people infected with influenza, respiratory syncytial virus, COVID-19, and norovirus.
MINNEAPOLIS — Editor’s note: The video above first aired on KARE 11 in December 2024.
Hospitals in Minnesota and across the country are feeling the strain, with emergency departments struggling to keep up with recent overflows of patients.
M Health Fairview said its hospitals are overcrowded due to what it calls a “quademic” caused by an influx of people infected with influenza, RSV, COVID-19 and norovirus.
“The number of influenza cases is up more than 30% compared to a comparable flu season,” said Dr. Brandon Trigger, an emergency medicine physician at M Health Fairview Southdale. “We’re trying to be creative and seeing patients in the hallways and seeing patients in alternative care areas.”
M Health Fairview said in a statement that this quadruple punch has resulted in longer wait times and a lack of resources needed to treat more life-threatening emergencies, such as heart attacks and strokes.
The hospital system also cited data collected by hospitals. Minnesota Department of HealthThis means that in 2024, the number of hospitalizations for respiratory illnesses will be the highest in more than five years.
To alleviate pressure on Minnesota’s hospital system, doctors are asking:
- Only go to the emergency room if you have a true emergency, such as chest pain, difficulty breathing, severe injury, or sudden neurological changes.
- If you have a non-emergency medical concern, please contact your health care provider, visit an urgent care clinic, or use telehealth services.
- Get vaccinated against influenza and COVID-19 to reduce the severity and spread of these viruses.
- Wash your hands frequently, stay home if you feel sick, and wear a mask in crowded indoor spaces.
According to the Minnesota Department of Health, from Dec. 28 to Jan. 4, Minnesota saw 722 hospitalizations due to influenza, the most in a single week since the department began tracking this data in 2008. It became.
“We’re hoping that this peaks and then starts to subside fairly quickly over the next few weeks, but it’s impossible to say at this point,” said Melissa McMahon, influenza surveillance supervisor for the Minnesota Department of Health. said.
McMahon added that flu vaccination rates are significantly lower this year, which could be fueling the surge.
“Minnesota’s vaccination rate for all age groups is just under 30%. Before the pandemic, vaccination rates were typically between 50% and 60%,” McMahon said.
