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The leaders of the Billings Clinic said Thursday that the hospital and its emergency department were beyond their capacity and were trying to meet the demand.
Patient beds were installed in a conference room and in the corridors to handle the overflow, hospital officials said at a press conference in the morning.
Dr. Robert Merchant, chief medical officer of the hospital, said that many hospitals in the state are near or at full capacity. The Billings Clinic has a capacity of over 110%. The emergency department has 36 beds, as well as additional triage rooms and other patient areas.
Merchant said the hospital was not in a crisis.
"We manage our patients, our patients receive exceptional quality care," he said. "But it's a situation where this has an impact on our flows."
The same goes for St. Vincent Healthcare, said Dr. Michael Bush, Chief Medical Officer.
"St. Vincent Healthcare is currently experiencing a very large number of patients in the hospital," he said in a statement.
While Billings Clinic continues to provide care to all patients in its emergency department, Bush has encouraged people with non-urgent issues to visit one of the city's walk-in clinics. # 39; s hospital.
Nancy Iverson, Director of Patient Safety and Infection Control at Billings Clinic, speaks at Thursday's press conference.
Although demand is strong at this time of the year – when cold weather induces more respiratory diseases – the number remains unusually high. February is generally the peak of the influenza season, said Nancy Iverson, Director of Patient Safety and Infection Control at Billings Clinic.
Merchant, a long-time doctor, said the Billings Clinic, the state's largest health care center, had the largest number of patients he saw during his tenure.
The clinic uses a color coded system to characterize its capacity. Thursday, the clinic was "black", its highest designation.
This designation is not used more than two or three times a year, he said.
Despite this, medical officials do not refuse patients, although patients with life-threatening illnesses are treated first. Others can expect a longer wait time than usual.
During a press conference held in the morning, hospital officials encouraged less sick patients to consider getting treatment in walk-in clinics at the hospital or in the city , or by calling the hospital helpline at 255-8400. Calling clinics for an appointment will reduce waiting time, they said.
The ultimate goal is for patients to seek the appropriate level of service, Merchant said. Most respiratory diseases can be treated in day clinics and walk-in clinics, where many patients will receive services more quickly.
Merchant said that the increase in the number of patients was partly related to a seasonal illness, for example influenza.
The leaders of the Billings Clinic meet before a press conference Thursday at the hospital.
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