Stop visiting the ER for COVID tests, Sanford Health and Avera ask as hospitalizations increase

Avera Health and Sanford Health in Sioux Falls are asking people to stop going to the emergency room for COVID-19 tests and are instead encouraging at-home test use.

The two largest health systems' staff and hospitals are reaching their limits as the state has seen yet another day of record COVID-19 cases amid flu and regular cold season.

“Please do not go to the emergency room for COVID-19 testing, as the ER is for patients who are critically ill,” Kevin Post, a physician and chief medical officer for Avera Medical Group said in a statement to Argus Leader. He said only go to the ER if "you are experiencing severe breathing problems, chest pain or other life-threatening conditions."

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Sanford Health and Avera Health are both reporting high numbers of hospitalizations, as 348 COVID-19 patients are hospitalized across the entire state, according to the Department of Health. The DOH says 30 percent of hospital beds are available and 32 percent of adult ICU beds are available in South Dakota.

And Sanford Health is running over 5,500 tests per day, according to a press statement.

"Our central laboratory in Sioux Falls is running 24/7 to keep up with the demand," Sanford Health said in the statement.

The antigen and PCR at-home tests are accurate and acceptable for most people, officials say.

“This includes the public as well as Avera employees for the time being because positivity rates are so high,” Post said.

Both Sanford and Avera encouraged people to check the government's brand-new website and program for free at-home tests, which released Jan. 18.

Hospitals and staff strained by COVID-19 testing and patients

Both Avera and Sanford Health have strained hospital systems in Sioux Falls, and across their networks, officials said.

Avera Health has 180 COVID-19 patients in its hospitals and 750 patients in its COVID-19 Virtual Home Monitoring program total.

It was seeing about 100 patients a few weeks ago. That number is still below its peak of 300 patients seen earlier in the pandemic.

"These numbers have increased significantly over the past couple of weeks and we anticipate that same increase over the next few weeks," Post said.

Sanford Health has 231 hospitalized COVID-19 patients in its regional system, 52 of which are in intensive care, as of Jan. 18.

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Sanford Health to delay some elective surgeries

Sanford is asking patients to delay some surgeries by several weeks as hospitalizations increase.

“We are working closely with our surgical leaders, who are asking patients if they are willing to reschedule elective surgeries further into January or February if an overnight stay in the hospital is required," Mike Wilde, a physician and vice president medical officer at Sanford Health in Sioux Falls said in a statement to Argus Leader. "Our staff is dedicated to providing the best care to patients as close to home as possible."

Both hospital systems also urge people to be fully vaccinated if they haven't already.

You can schedule a COVID-19 vaccination appointment through your personal "My Sanford Chart" or by calling (877) 701-0779 or by contacting Avera at https://www.avera.org/services/primary-care/immunizations/covid-19-vaccine/

This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Sanford Health and Avera near limit, ask for no more COVID tests at ER