“The latest wave of COVID-19 – in the form of the Delta variant – is creating a surge in hospitalizations in Northeast Ohio as it has done in other regions of the U.S. Just as with earlier waves of the virus, this variant surge is stretching our hospital resources and demanding tremendous efforts from their caregivers. As we saw in 2020, hospitals are again having to consider measures such as rescheduling elective procedures, activating patient diversion plans and limiting visitation policies. This is a direct result of the pressure caused by the growing number of COVID-19 patients.

We have all grown weary of this pandemic and are eager for it to end, yet we are still deeply entrenched in it. We are calling upon Northeast Ohioans to do their part to ensure our region continues to have access to vital and life-saving care as well as economic sustainability. Now is the time to double down on what the science has shown to work: wearing masks and getting vaccinated. The vast majority of the very ill patients who are being cared for in our hospitals right now have not been vaccinated. By wearing masks and getting the vaccine – and getting a booster if eligible – we can protect ourselves and our loved ones from the virus, and we can ensure hospitals have the capacity needed when they’re called on to care for patients with other illnesses and injuries.”

About The Center for Health Affairs: With a rich history dating back to 1916, The Center for Health Affairs serves as the collective voice and leading advocate for 36 hospitals across nine counties in Northeast Ohio. As the nation’s first regional hospital association, The Center aims to enhance the effectiveness of the healthcare community and the health of the communities it serves by providing expertise, resources and solutions to address the challenges facing the region’s healthcare providers. The Center’s efforts focus on areas in which member hospitals and their communities can benefit from a regional approach, including emergency preparedness; public policy and advocacy; finance and reimbursement; and community health. Through its business affiliates, CHAMPS Group Purchasing and The Essentials Group, The Center provides a broad level of professional services to its members. Headquartered in downtown Cleveland, The Center is honored to be named as one of The Cleveland Plain Dealer’s Top Workplaces in 2014, 2015 and 2021; ERC’s NorthCoast99 List in 2003, 2004, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017; Crain’s Cleveland Business and Best Companies Group’s Best Employers in Ohio in 2020 and 2021; and Modern Healthcare’s 2021 Best Places to Work in Healthcare. For more, visit neohospitals.org.

For more information about Northeast Ohio hospitals, contact us.

TWEETABLE: Statement from Brian Lane, President & CEO of The Center for Health Affairs and CHAMPS Healthcare, on the Surge of COVID-19 Hospitalizations in Northeast Ohio