More than half intensive care beds filled at Treasure Coast hospitals – TCPalm

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As the novel coronovirus makes its way through Florida, hospitals on the Treasure Coast already havemore than half of theirintensive care beds filled, according to a state database.

The three counties have 164ICU adult beds;plus sixpediatric ICU beds aLawnwood Regional Medical Center & Heart Institute in Fort Pierce. As of noon Monday, patients filled 96of the adult beds, or about 59percent, plus half of Lawnwood's pediatric beds.

As of noon Monday, 55people on the Treasure Coast were admitted at hospitals related toCOVID-19.

Thursday, theAgency for Health Care Administration announced it had published a data dashboard of real-timehospital bed availability to provide the public with greater visibility on hospital capacity and census.

While the COVID-19 public health crisis is unprecedented, Florida has a strong foundation of emergency preparedness built on government collaboration at all levelsstate level emergency infrastructure to support local responses, state and county public health expertise and resources, and a high-quality, dedicated health system, said agency Secretary Mary Mayhew.

Monday, Lawnwood had 40of 54 of its adult ICU beds filled, about 74percent. But officials said they have a plan if more beds are filled.

"We stand ready to activate established and exercised surge plans, including setting up triage tents and mobilizing additional resources in collaboration with federal, state and local entities," said Lawnwood spokeswoman Tiffany Woods. "Our surge plans include using all available patient care space within our hospitals and in other settings across our healthcare system."

Overall bed availability on the Treasure Coast showed about 54percent of the 1,807 were filled Monday.

This publicly reported data will be a critical statewide resource for anticipating individual hospital needs and monitoring bed availability across Florida," Mayhew said.

Thedashboardprovides search options for counties and individual hospitals within the counties for overall beds and ICU beds.

More: Coronavirus cases: Third person dies in St. Lucie County

More: St. Lucie, Indian River, Martin counties embrace DeSantis' statewide safe-at-home order

Stancil is a breaking news reporter for TCPalm.Contact Stancil at 321-987-7179

or lamaur.stancil@tcpalm.com.Twitter: @TCPalmLStancil

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More than half intensive care beds filled at Treasure Coast hospitals - TCPalm