Coronavirus Surges: Here's How Close LI Hospitals Are To Capacity

LONG ISLAND, NY — New data published by federal health officials offers a glimpse into which hospitals across the United States are closest to hitting capacity as the coronavirus gains steam over the holiday season.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on Monday released capacity data for thousands of hospitals nationwide. Previously released data about hospital capacity was aggregated at the state level, but the new data paints a clearer picture about how many beds are actually available within individual hospitals. The new, more granular data aggregates daily hospital reports into a "week at a time" picture.

On Long Island, the data showed four hospitals were already at more than 90 percent capacity for inpatient beds used. Peconic Bay Medical Center in Riverhead had the percent of inpatient beds used at 96 percent for the week of Nov. 27, the latest date for which data was available. That's up from the 83 percent share the hospital recorded Oct. 23 and 85 percent as recently as Nov. 13. Peconic's percent of inpatient beds used then jumped to 97 percent the ending Nov. 20.

For the week of Nov. 21, Peconic used about 123 of its 128 adult hospital inpatient beds. A quarter of those patients were diagnosed with COVID-19, a higher percentage than any hospital on the island.

Nassau University Medical Center in East Meadow, Southside Hospital in Bay Shore and Long Island Community Hospital in Patchogue were also all at over 90 percent.

St. Joseph Hospital in Bethpage, meanwhile, had the most capacity available, using just 64 percent of its adult inpatient beds for that week. Other hospitals that had not hit 70 percent capacity included Glen Cove Hospital, Plainview hospital and John T. Mather Memorial Hospital Of Port Jefferson.

St. Charles Hospital in Port Jefferson, meanwhile, saw the lowest share of adult inpatient beds used by COVID-19 patients at just 4 percent.

A spokesman for Northwell Health told Patch in an email Friday that Southside University Hospital — soon to be called South Shore Univeristy Hospital — was at 86 percent ICU capacity while Peconic Bay Medical Center was at 66 percent.

Health experts told NPR that the ratio of coronavirus hospitalizations to total beds is a key indicator of how strained hospitals are. Experts said its cause for concern if the percentage is higher than 10 percent. Hospitals experience extreme stress when that number eclipses 20 percent, and immense stress as the number approaches 50 percent.

"It means the hospital is overloaded. It means other services in that hospital are being delayed. The hospital becomes a nightmare," Ali Mokdad, professor of Health Metrics Sciences at the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation and chief strategy officer for Population Health at the University of Washington told NPR.

The data release comes as Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Monday warned restaurants and bars in the state would have to reduce capacity to 25 percent if the hospitalization rate didn't stabilize by Friday. Those in New York City would have to close their doors entirely.

The state will also reenact the NY PAUSE shutdown by region should the seven-day hospitalization growth rate indicate that hospitals in that region be on track to hit critical capacity — or 90 percent — within three weeks. Cuomo also ordered all hospitals to increase bed capacity by 25 percent.

"You cannot overwhelm your hospitals," Cuomo said. "We can't be Italy."

He added: "If you are at a rate that will overwhelm your hospitals you must shut down."

Here are the capacity numbers for Long Island hospitals, according to federal Health and Human Services data. The hospitals are organized by county, starting with the hospitals with the highest percent of inpatient beds used.

Nassau County

Nassau University Medical Center (East Meadow)

• Total Beds (7-day average): 480
• All Adult Hospital Beds (7-day avg): 350
• All Adult Hospital Inpatient Beds (7-day average): 330
• Inpatient Beds Used (7-day average): 319.1
• All Adult Hospital Inpatient Bed Occupied (7-day average): 304
• Percent of inpatient beds used (Overall): 92 percent
• Total Adult Patients Hospitalized Confirmed And Suspected COVID-19 (7-day average): 16.9
• Total Adult Patients Hospitalized Confirmed COVID-19 (7-day average): 16.1
• Percent of Adult Inpatient Beds used By COVID-19 Patients: 5 percent
• Inpatient Beds (7-day average): 350
• Total ICU Beds (7-day average): 64
• Total Staffed Adult ICU Beds (7-day average): 54
• ICU Beds Used (7-day average): 64
• Staffed Adult ICU Bed Occupancy (7-day average): 52.4
• Staffed ICU Adult Patients Confirmed And Suspected COVID-19 (7-day average): N/A
• Staffed ICU Adult Patients Confirmed COVID-19 (7-day average): N/A

Mount Sinai South Nassau (Oceanside)

• Total Beds (7-day average): 433
• All Adult Hospital Beds (7-day avg): 409
• All Adult Hospital Inpatient Beds (7-day average): 380.4
• Inpatient Beds Used (7-day average): 311.3
• All Adult Hospital Inpatient Bed Occupied (7-day average): 307
• Share of inpatient beds used (Overall): 81 percent
• Total Adult Patients Hospitalized Confirmed And Suspected COVID-19 (7-day average): 32.6
• Share of Adult Inpatient Beds used By COVID-19 Patients: 8.57 percent
• Total Adult Patients Hospitalized Confirmed COVID-19 (7-day average): 31.3
• Inpatient Beds (7-day average): 404.4
• Total ICU Beds (7-day average): 28.4
• Total Staffed Adult ICU Beds (7-day Average): 28.4
• ICU Beds Used (7-day average): 19.3
• Staffed Adult ICU Bed Occupancy (7-day average): 19.3
• Staffed ICU Adult Patients Confirmed And Suspected COVID-19 (7-day average): N/A
• Staffed ICU Adult Patients Confirmed COVID-19 (7-day average):N/A

St. Francis Hospital, Roslyn (Roslyn)

• Total Beds (7-day average): 357
• All Adult Hospital Beds (7-day avg): 357
• All Adult Hospital Inpatient Beds (7-day average): 357
• Inpatient Beds Used (7-day average): 274.9
• All Adult Hospital Inpatient Bed Occupied (7-day average): 274.9
• Share Of Inpatient Beds Used (Overall): 77 percent
• Total Adult Patients Hospitalized Confirmed And Suspected COVID-19 (7-day average): 29.4
• Share of Adult Inpatient Beds used By COVID-19 Patients: 8.24
• Total Adult Patients Hospitalized Confirmed COVID-19 (7-day average): 28.9
• Inpatient Beds (7-day average): 357
• Total ICU Beds (7-day average): 80
• Total Staffed Adult ICU Beds (7-day Average): 80
• ICU Beds Used (7-day average): 39.3
• Staffed Adult ICU Bed Occupancy (7-day average): 39.3
• Staffed ICU Adult Patients Confirmed And Suspected COVID-19 (7-day average): 9.4
• Staffed ICU Adult Patients Confirmed COVID-19 (7-day average): 9.1

Long Island Jewish Medical Center (New Hyde Park)

• Total Beds (7-day average): 1716.4
• All Adult Hospital Beds (7-day avg): 1484.4
• All Adult Hospital Inpatient Beds (7-day average): 1305.4
• Inpatient Beds Used (7-day average): 1170
• All Adult Hospital Inpatient Bed Occupied (7-day average): 973.4
• Share of inpatient beds used (Overall): 75 percent
• Total Adult Patients Hospitalized Confirmed And Suspected COVID-19 (7-day average): 140
• Share of Adult Inpatient Beds used By COVID-19 Patients: 10.7 percent
• Total Adult Patients Hospitalized Confirmed COVID-19 (7-day average): 111.7
• Inpatient Beds (7-day average): 1470.4
• Total ICU Beds (7-day average): 183.6
• Total Staffed Adult ICU Beds (7-day Average): 101.6
• ICU Beds Used (7-day average): 116.1
• Staffed Adult ICU Bed Occupancy (7-day average): 65.3
• Staffed ICU Adult Patients Confirmed And Suspected COVID-19 (7-day average): 21.3
• Staffed ICU Adult Patients Confirmed COVID-19 (7-day average): 20.6

Mercy Medical Center (Rockville Centre)

• Total Beds (7-day average): 277
• All Adult Hospital Beds (7-day avg): 264
• All Adult Hospital Inpatient Beds (7-day average): 207
• Inpatient Beds Used (7-day average): 167.1
• All Adult Hospital Inpatient Bed Occupied (7-day average): 154.1
• Share of inpatient beds used (Overall): 74 percent
• Total Adult Patients Hospitalized Confirmed And Suspected COVID-19 (7-day average): 18.7
• Share of Adult Inpatient Beds used By COVID-19 Patients: 9 percent
• Total Adult Patients Hospitalized Confirmed COVID-19 (7-day average): 18.6
• Inpatient Beds (7-day average): 226
• Total ICU Beds (7-day average): 23
• Total Staffed Adult ICU Beds (7-day Average): 13
• ICU Beds Used (7-day average): 14.4
• Staffed Adult ICU Bed Occupancy (7-day average): 9.9
• Staffed ICU Adult Patients Confirmed And Suspected COVID-19 (7-day average): N/A
• Staffed ICU Adult Patients Confirmed COVID-19 (7-day average): N/A

North Shore University Hospital (Manhasset)

• Total Beds (7-day average): 1192
• All Adult Hospital Beds (7-day avg): 1097
• All Adult Hospital Inpatient Beds (7-day average): 989
• Inpatient Beds Used (7-day average): 750.6
• All Adult Hospital Inpatient Bed Occupied (7-day average): 697.7
• Share of inpatient beds used (Overall): 71 percent
• Total Adult Patients Hospitalized Confirmed And Suspected COVID-19 (7-day average): 86.9
• Share of Adult Inpatient Beds used By COVID-19 Patients: 8.79 percent
• Total Adult Patients Hospitalized Confirmed COVID-19 (7-day average): 72.1
• Inpatient Beds (7-day average): 1078
• Total ICU Beds (7-day average): 172
• Total Staffed Adult ICU Beds (7-day Average): 123
• ICU Beds Used (7-day average): 58.7
• Staffed Adult ICU Bed Occupancy (7-day average): 39.9
• Staffed ICU Adult Patients Confirmed And Suspected COVID-19 (7-day average): 14.1
• Staffed ICU Adult Patients Confirmed COVID-19 (7-day average): 14.1

Plainview Hospital (Plainview)

• Total Beds (7-day average): 231
• All Adult Hospital Beds (7-day avg): 231
• All Adult Hospital Inpatient Beds (7-day average): 181
• Inpatient Beds Used (7-day average): 126
• All Adult Hospital Inpatient Bed Occupied (7-day average): 125.7
• Share of inpatient beds used (Overall): 69 percent
• Total Adult Patients Hospitalized Confirmed And Suspected COVID-19 (7-day average): 31.4
• Share of Adult Inpatient Beds used By COVID-19 Patients: 17.35
• Total Adult Patients Hospitalized Confirmed COVID-19 (7-day average): 29.1
• Inpatient Beds (7-day average): 181
• Total ICU Beds (7-day average): 20
• Total Staffed Adult ICU Beds (7-day Average): 20
• ICU Beds Used (7-day average): 11.9
• Staffed Adult ICU Bed Occupancy (7-day average): 11.9
• Staffed ICU Adult Patients Confirmed And Suspected COVID-19 (7-day average): 4.4
• Staffed ICU Adult Patients Confirmed COVID-19 (7-day average): 4.4

Glen Cove Hospital (Glen Cove)

• Total Beds (7-day average): 191
• All Adult Hospital Beds (7-day avg): 191
• All Adult Hospital Inpatient Beds (7-day average): 156
• Inpatient Beds Used (7-day average): 108.4
• All Adult Hospital Inpatient Bed Occupied (7-day average): 107.4
• Share of inpatient beds used (Overall): 69 percent
• Total Adult Patients Hospitalized Confirmed And Suspected COVID-19 (7-day average): 12.9
• Share of Adult Inpatient Beds used By COVID-19 Patients: 8.27 percent
• Total Adult Patients Hospitalized Confirmed COVID-19 (7-day average): 11 percent
• Inpatient Beds (7-day average): 156
• Total ICU Beds (7-day average): 18
• Total Staffed Adult ICU Beds (7-day Average): 18
• ICU Beds Used (7-day average): 7
• Staffed Adult ICU Bed Occupancy (7-day average): 6.9
• Staffed ICU Adult Patients Confirmed And Suspected COVID-19 (7-day average): N/A
• Staffed ICU Adult Patients Confirmed COVID-19 (7-day average): N/A

St Joseph Hospital (Bethpage)

• Total Beds (7-day average): 144
• All Adult Hospital Beds (7-day avg): 144
• All Adult Hospital Inpatient Beds (7-day average): 144
• Inpatient Beds Used (7-day average): 91.9
• All Adult Hospital Inpatient Bed Occupied (7-day average): 91.9
• Share of inpatient beds used (Overall): 64 percent
• Total Adult Patients Hospitalized Confirmed And Suspected COVID-19 (7-day average): 16.4
• Share of Adult Inpatient Beds used By COVID-19 Patients: 11 percent
• Total Adult Patients Hospitalized Confirmed COVID-19 (7-day average): 16.4
• Inpatient Beds (7-day average): 144
• Total ICU Beds (7-day average): 12
• Total Staffed Adult ICU Beds (7-day Average): 12
• ICU Beds Used (7-day average): 9.6
• Staffed Adult ICU Bed Occupancy (7-day average): 9.6
• Staffed ICU Adult Patients Confirmed And Suspected COVID-19 (7-day average): N/A
• Staffed ICU Adult Patients Confirmed COVID-19 (7-day average): N/A

Suffolk County

Peconic Bay Medical Center (Riverhead)

• Total Beds (7-day average): 170
• All Adult Hospital Beds (7-day avg): 170
• All Adult Hospital Inpatient Beds (7-day average): 128
• Inpatient Beds Used (7-day average): 122.9
• All Adult Hospital Inpatient Bed Occupied (7-day average): 122.9
• Share of inpatient beds used (Overall): 96 percent
• Total Adult Patients Hospitalized Confirmed And Suspected COVID-19 (7-day average): 32
• Share of Adult Inpatient Beds used By COVID-19 Patients: 25 percent
• Total Adult Patients Hospitalized Confirmed COVID-19 (7-day average): 32
• Inpatient Beds (7-day average): 128
• Total ICU Beds (7-day average): 8
• Total Staffed Adult ICU Beds (7-day Average): 8
• ICU Beds Used (7-day average): 7.3
• Staffed Adult ICU Bed Occupancy (7-day average): 7.3
• Staffed ICU Adult Patients Confirmed And Suspected COVID-19 (7-day average): N/A
• Staffed ICU Adult Patients Confirmed COVID-19 (7-day average): N/A

Southside Hospital (Bay Shore)

• Total Beds (7-day average): 397.6
• All Adult Hospital Beds (7-day avg): 368.6
• All Adult Hospital Inpatient Beds (7-day average): 288
• Inpatient Beds Used (7-day average): 286.6
• All Adult Hospital Inpatient Bed Occupied (7-day average): 265.9
• Share of inpatient beds used (Overall): 92 percent
• Total Adult Patients Hospitalized Confirmed And Suspected COVID-19 (7-day average): 53.1
• Share of Adult Inpatient Beds used By COVID-19 Patients: 18.44 percent
• Total Adult Patients Hospitalized Confirmed COVID-19 (7-day average): 39.9
• Inpatient Beds (7-day average): 307.7
• Total ICU Beds (7-day average): 51.3
• Total Staffed Adult ICU Beds (7-day Average): 40.3
• ICU Beds Used (7-day average): 32.3
• Staffed Adult ICU Bed Occupancy (7-day average): 25.3
• Staffed ICU Adult Patients Confirmed And Suspected COVID-19 (7-day average): 7.6
• Staffed ICU Adult Patients Confirmed COVID-19 (7-day average): 7.6

Long Island Community Hospital (Patchogue)

• Total Beds (7-day average): 189.7
• All Adult Hospital Beds (7-day avg): 189.7
• All Adult Hospital Inpatient Beds (7-day average): 189.7
• Inpatient Beds Used (7-day average): 173.1
• All Adult Hospital Inpatient Bed Occupied (7-day average): 173.1
• Share of inpatient beds used (Overall): 91 percent
• Total Adult Patients Hospitalized Confirmed And Suspected COVID-19 (7-day average): 21
• Share of Adult Inpatient Beds used By COVID-19 Patients: 11.07 percent
• Total Adult Patients Hospitalized Confirmed COVID-19 (7-day average): 8.3 percent
• Inpatient Beds (7-day average): 189.7
• Total ICU Beds (7-day average): 29
• Total Staffed Adult ICU Beds (7-day Average): 29
• ICU Beds Used (7-day average): 29
• Staffed Adult ICU Bed Occupancy (7-day average): 29
• Staffed ICU Adult Patients Confirmed And Suspected COVID-19 (7-day average): 8.9
• Staffed ICU Adult Patients Confirmed COVID-19 (7-day average): 4.1

Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center (West Islip)

• Total Beds (7-day average): 401
• All Adult Hospital Beds (7-day avg): 370
• All Adult Hospital Inpatient Beds (7-day average): 370
• Inpatient Beds Used (7-day average): 347.4
• All Adult Hospital Inpatient Bed Occupied (7-day average): 317.7
• Share of inpatient beds used (Overall): 86 percent
• Total Adult Patients Hospitalized Confirmed And Suspected COVID-19 (7-day average): 45.7
• Share of Adult Inpatient Beds used By COVID-19 Patients: 12 percent
• Total Adult Patients Hospitalized Confirmed COVID-19 (7-day average): 44.6
• Inpatient Beds (7-day average): 401
• Total ICU Beds (7-day average): 80
• Total Staffed Adult ICU Beds (7-day Average): 60
• ICU Beds Used (7-day average): 72.7
• Staffed Adult ICU Bed Occupancy (7-day average): 51.6
• Staffed ICU Adult Patients Confirmed And Suspected COVID-19 (7-day average): 7.4
• Staffed ICU Adult Patients Confirmed COVID-19 (7-day average): 7.3

St. Charles Hospital (Port Jefferson)

• Total Beds (7-day average):262
• All Adult Hospital Beds (7-day avg): 246
• All Adult Hospital Inpatient Beds (7-day average): 200
• Inpatient Beds Used (7-day average): 165.9
• All Adult Hospital Inpatient Bed Occupied (7-day average) 163.4
• Share of inpatient beds used (Overall): 82 percent
• Total Adult Patients Hospitalized Confirmed And Suspected COVID-19 (7-day average): 8.6
• Share of Adult Inpatient Beds Used By COVID-19 Patients: 4 percent
• Total Adult Patients Hospitalized Confirmed COVID-19 (7-day average): 8.6
• Inpatient Beds (7-day average): 216
• Total ICU Beds (7-day average): 34
• Total Staffed Adult ICU Beds (7-day Average): 26
• ICU Beds Used (7-day average): 12.1
• Staffed Adult ICU Bed Occupancy (7-day average): 12.1
• Staffed ICU Adult Patients Confirmed And Suspected COVID-19 (7-day average)
• Staffed ICU Adult Patients Confirmed COVID-19 (7-day average): 4.6

Stony Brook University Hospital (Stony Brook)

• Total Beds (7-day average): 755.7
• All Adult Hospital Beds (7-day avg): 647.4
• All Adult Hospital Inpatient Beds (7-day average): 647.4
• Inpatient Beds Used (7-day average): 548.1
• All Adult Hospital Inpatient Bed Occupied (7-day average): 486.4
• Share of inpatient beds used (Overall): 75 percent
• Total Adult Patients Hospitalized Confirmed And Suspected COVID-19 (7-day average): 63.4
• Share of Adult Inpatient Beds used By COVID-19 Patients: 9.79
• Total Adult Patients Hospitalized Confirmed COVID-19 (7-day average): 57.6
• Inpatient Beds (7-day average): 755.7
• Total ICU Beds (7-day average): 142.4
• Total Staffed Adult ICU Beds (7-day Average): 86.4
• ICU Beds Used (7-day average): 91.4
• Staffed Adult ICU Bed Occupancy (7-day average): 56.9
• Staffed ICU Adult Patients Confirmed And Suspected COVID-19 (7-day average): 4.6
• Staffed ICU Adult Patients Confirmed COVID-19 (7-day average): 4.6

St Catherine Of Siena Hospital (Smithtown)

• Total Beds (7-day average): 339
• All Adult Hospital Beds (7-day avg):339
• All Adult Hospital Inpatient Beds (7-day average): 211
• Inpatient Beds Used (7-day average): 157.7
• All Adult Hospital Inpatient Bed Occupied (7-day average): 157.7
• Share of inpatient beds used (Overall): 75 percent
• Total Adult Patients Hospitalized Confirmed And Suspected COVID-19 (7-day average): 22.9
• Share of Adult Inpatient Beds used By COVID-19 Patients: 10.9 percent
• Total Adult Patients Hospitalized Confirmed COVID-19 (7-day average): 22.9
• Inpatient Beds (7-day average): 211
• Total ICU Beds (7-day average): 23
• Total Staffed Adult ICU Beds (7-day Average): 23
• ICU Beds Used (7-day average): 12
• Staffed Adult ICU Bed Occupancy (7-day average): 12
• Staffed ICU Adult Patients Confirmed And Suspected COVID-19 (7-day average): N/A
• Staffed ICU Adult Patients Confirmed COVID-19 (7-day average): N/A

Huntington Hospital (Huntington)

• Total Beds (7-day average): 380
• All Adult Hospital Beds (7-day avg): 344
• All Adult Hospital Inpatient Beds (7-day average): 272
• Inpatient Beds Used (7-day average): 214
• All Adult Hospital Inpatient Bed Occupied (7-day average): 199.4
• Share of inpatient beds used (Overall): 73 percent
• Total Adult Patients Hospitalized Confirmed And Suspected COVID-19 (7-day average): 31.7
• Share of Adult Inpatient Beds used By COVID-19 Patients: 11.7 percent
• Total Adult Patients Hospitalized Confirmed COVID-19 (7-day average): 24.1
• Inpatient Beds (7-day average): 299
• Total ICU Beds (7-day average): 51
• Total Staffed Adult ICU Beds (7-day Average): 42
• ICU Beds Used (7-day average): 27.3
• Staffed Adult ICU Bed Occupancy (7-day average): 26
• Staffed ICU Adult Patients Confirmed And Suspected COVID-19 (7-day average): 4.7
• Staffed ICU Adult Patients Confirmed COVID-19 (7-day average): 4.7

John T Mather Memorial Hospital Of Port Jefferson (Port Jefferson)

• Total Beds (7-day average): 270
• All Adult Hospital Beds (7-day avg): 270
• All Adult Hospital Inpatient Beds (7-day average): 205
• Inpatient Beds Used (7-day average): 139.3
• All Adult Hospital Inpatient Bed Occupied (7-day average): 139.3
• Share of inpatient beds used (Overall): 68 percent
• Total Adult Patients Hospitalized Confirmed And Suspected COVID-19 (7-day average): 16.7
• Share of Adult Inpatient Beds used By COVID-19 Patients: 8.15 percent
• Total Adult Patients Hospitalized Confirmed COVID-19 (7-day average): 6
• Inpatient Beds (7-day average): 205
• Total ICU Beds (7-day average): 42
• Total Staffed Adult ICU Beds (7-day Average): 10
• ICU Beds Used (7-day average): 13.7
• Staffed Adult ICU Bed Occupancy (7-day average): 13.7
• Staffed ICU Adult Patients Confirmed And Suspected COVID-19 (7-day average): N/A
• Staffed ICU Adult Patients Confirmed COVID-19 (7-day average): N/A