Maury Regional on track to break its record for COVID hospitalizations, chief says

COLUMBIA, Tenn. (WZTV) — Maury Regional Health is on track to break its prior record for COVID-19 hospitalizations, Chief Medical Officer Dr. Martin Chaney tells FOX 17 News.

Maury Regional's current COVID-19 inpatient record of 102 was set on December 28, 2020. Thursday, MRH was just shy of that record with 93 COVID-19 inpatients with 30 percent of those patients in critical care.

This week, Maury Regional expanded its ICU beds from 26 to 38. They are now looking at whether or not another expansion is necessary.

Dr. Chaney says the majority, more than 90 percent, of Maury Regional's hospitalized COVID-19 patients were not fully vaccinated.

“We are experiencing an influx of critically ill COVID patients, the majority of whom are unvaccinated” said Dr. Chaney. “We also continue to see an increase in patients in our urgent care facilities and emergency rooms. When you look at local, regional and state trends, we can only expect these numbers to increase in the coming days.”

According to Maury Regional, vaccination rates in the health system's primary six-county service area range from 32 percent to 59 percent. With the exhausted medical professionals in mind, Maury Regional's CEO is urging community members to consider getting vaccinated against the virus.

“Health care systems across Tennessee are feeling the strain of increased hospitalizations. We have nurses, physicians, respiratory therapists and others who are working long hours and extra shifts to care for our patients. I am immensely proud of our care teams at Maury Regional Health, but it is taking a toll on them physically and emotionally. They are holding the hands of scared patients about to be placed on a ventilator and consoling families as they lose a loved one. They are heroes, but they need the help of our community. Please get vaccinated and, as the CDC has recommended, wear a mask in public indoor spaces regardless of your vaccination status,"CEO Alan Watson stated.

Find vaccine information here.