Weekly Update: See Which West Des Moines Area Hospitals Are Nearing Capacity

WEST DES MOINES, IA — As the U.S. braces for a new surge of COVID-19 cases sparked by more contagious strains from abroad, hospitals across Iowa and the rest of the country are still struggling to meet the demand for beds, particularly in intensive-care units.

Each week, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services releases data showing how close tens of thousands of hospitals nationwide are to reaching their capacity. The latest data for hospitals in Polk County includes the share of all adult inpatient beds occupied by patients confirmed or suspected to have COVID-19, along with the share of ICU beds occupied by such patients.

The new numbers, included below, are current through Thursday, Jan. 28, and represent a rolling 7-day average.

Note that the figures for occupied hospital beds sometimes exceed 100 percent; this is because more than one patient sometimes occupies a bed over the course of a week, according to a representative for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Health experts have said that the share of a hospital’s total beds devoted to coronavirus is key to understanding the strain on its resources. A share greater than 10 percent is said to be a cause of concern. When that share exceeds 20 percent, a hospital is said to be under extreme stress, and as the share approaches 50 percent the stress is said to be immense.

Also this week, state health officials in Iowa reported to the federal government that 60 percent of inpatient beds and 67 percent of ICU beds in hospitals across the state were still occupied as of Jan. 31. Around 5 percent of beds statewide were filled by COVID-19 patients, they reported.

Below are the latest figures for hospitals in Polk County.

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Editor’s note: This list was automatically generated using data compiled by the U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services. The local hospitals included in the list are limited to those included in the government data. Please report any errors or other feedback to content@patch.com.

BROADLAWNS MEDICAL CENTER
1801 HICKMAN ROAD, DES MOINES

• All adult inpatient beds: 104
• Inpatient beds occupied: 81.7
• Inpatient beds used by confirmed and suspected COVID-19 patients: N/A
• Percent of inpatient beds used: 78.56%
• Percent of inpatient beds used by confirmed and suspected COVID-19 patients: N/A
• All adult ICU beds: 6
• ICU beds occupied: N/A
• ICU beds used by confirmed and suspected COVID-19 patients: N/A
• Percent of ICU beds used: N/A
• Percent of ICU beds used by confirmed and suspected COVID-19 patients: N/A

MERCYONE DES MOINES MEDICAL CENTER
1111 6TH AVE, DES MOINES

• All adult inpatient beds: 832.4
• Inpatient beds occupied: 414.3
• Inpatient beds used by confirmed and suspected COVID-19 patients: 47
• Percent of inpatient beds used: 49.77%
• Percent of inpatient beds used by confirmed and suspected COVID-19 patients: 5.65%
• All adult ICU beds: 64.4
• ICU beds occupied: 57.7
• ICU beds used by confirmed and suspected COVID-19 patients: 10.9
• Percent of ICU beds used: 89.60%
• Percent of ICU beds used by confirmed and suspected COVID-19 patients: 16.93%

SELECT SPECIALTY HOSPITAL - DES MOINES
1111 6TH AVENUE, 4TH FLOOR MAIN, DES MOINES

• All adult inpatient beds: 30
• Inpatient beds occupied: 30
• Inpatient beds used by confirmed and suspected COVID-19 patients: N/A
• Percent of inpatient beds used: 100.00%
• Percent of inpatient beds used by confirmed and suspected COVID-19 patients: N/A
• All adult ICU beds: 30
• ICU beds occupied: 30
• ICU beds used by confirmed and suspected COVID-19 patients: N/A
• Percent of ICU beds used: 100.00%
• Percent of ICU beds used by confirmed and suspected COVID-19 patients: N/A

UNITYPOINT HEALTH - DES MOINES IOWA METHODIST MEDI
1200 PLEASANT STREET, DES MOINES

• All adult inpatient beds: 438
• Inpatient beds occupied: 386.3
• Inpatient beds used by confirmed and suspected COVID-19 patients: 27.9
• Percent of inpatient beds used: 88.20%
• Percent of inpatient beds used by confirmed and suspected COVID-19 patients: 6.37%
• All adult ICU beds: 42
• ICU beds occupied: 30.3
• ICU beds used by confirmed and suspected COVID-19 patients: N/A
• Percent of ICU beds used: 72.14%
• Percent of ICU beds used by confirmed and suspected COVID-19 patients: N/A