Which Union County Hospitals Are Overwhelmed By COVID Patients?

UNION COUNTY, NJ — With COVID-19 cases surging across the country, many hospitals are under strain and beds are filling up in Union County.

Nationally, about 76 percent of all inpatient hospital beds were occupied as of Jan. 4, and about 16 percent of all beds were occupied by patients with COVID-19, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Intensive care unit beds are also filling up, with 78 percent occupied nationally. About 26 percent of ICU beds are occupied by COVID-19 patients.

In New Jersey, state officials reported to the federal government on Jan. 4 that approximately 69 percent of inpatient beds and 48 percent of intensive care unit beds in hospitals across the state were occupied. Around 24 percent of inpatient beds and 21 percent of ICU beds statewide were filled by COVID-19 patients, they reported.

According to hospital capacity experts who spoke to NPR, hospital ratios are concerning when they rise above 10%. Anything above 20% represents "extreme stress" for the hospital — according to the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington.

NPR updated its hospital capacity data on Monday, Jan. 10, which uses an analysis from the University of Minnesota's COVID-19 Hospitalization Tracking Project.

Below is the latest data for hospitals in Union County, according to NPR:

OVERLOOK MEDICAL CENTER: 99 BEAUVOIR AVENUE, SUMMIT

• Percent of adult ICU beds used: 38%
• Percent of adult ICU beds used by confirmed and suspected COVID-19 patients: 11%
• Percent of adult inpatient beds used: 63%
• Percent of adult inpatient beds used by confirmed and suspected COVID-19 patients: 23%
• Daily COVID-19 patients (7-day average): 118

ROBERT WOOD JOHNSON UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL AT RAHWAY: 865 STONE ST, RAHWAY

• Percent of adult ICU beds used: 87%
• Percent of adult ICU beds used by confirmed and suspected COVID-19 patients: 38%
• Percent of adult inpatient beds used: 85%
• Percent of adult inpatient beds used by confirmed and suspected COVID-19 patients: 40%
• Daily COVID-19 patients (7-day average): 50

TRINITAS REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER: 225 WILLIAMSON STREET, ELIZABETH

• Percent of adult ICU beds used: 66%
• Percent of adult ICU beds used by confirmed and suspected COVID-19 patients: 37%
• Percent of adult inpatient beds used: 66%
• Percent of adult inpatient beds used by confirmed and suspected COVID-19 patients: 30%
• Daily COVID-19 patients (7-day average): 67

CARE ONE AT TRINITAS REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER: 225 WILLIAMSON ST 7 NORTH, ELIZABETH

• Percent of ICU beds used: N/A
• Percent of ICU beds used by confirmed and suspected COVID-19 patients: N/A
• Percent of adult inpatient beds used: 61%
• Percent of adult inpatient beds used by confirmed and suspected COVID-19 patients: N/A
• Daily COVID-19 patients (7-day average): N/A

Across Union County, there is an overall average of 64% of adult ICU beds used with 28% of ICU beds being used by confirmed and suspected COVID-19 patients.

For more updates, visit NPR's hospital tracker or HealthData.gov.