PORT ANGELES – Olympic Medical Center has reached hospital capacity.
OMC officials say in the past two days, a high volume of ill and injured patients in the emergency department especially, has pushed the Port Angeles hospital to its limit and stretched the capacity of staff and beds.
OMC joins many hospitals in the state that are experiencing some level of staffing shortages and increased emergency department and hospital visits. Local officials say many major hospitals are also not able to take transfers, which makes the situation more difficult for places like OMC.
OMC is postponing all non-urgent surgeries and endoscopies for today. Wait times in the emergency department have increased, particularly for patients presenting with non-emergency needs.
OMC officials are encouraging people to avoid the ER and use walk-in clinics in Port Angeles and Sequim for non-emergency care.