The Haines SEARHC clinic has three ventilators, two treatment rooms, and eight exam rooms, but cannot acute or overnight care (Henry Leasia/KHNS)

Local emergency officials are keeping an eye on hospital capacity around the region as COVID-19 cases continue to rise across Alaska. The U.S. Coast Guard reported it medevaced a COVID-19 patient from Haines to Juneau last week underscoring the limited medical resources in the community. 

 

At least two Haines residents had serious COVID-19 complications with doctors ordering one evacuated to Juneau’s hospital. The U.S. Coast Guard transported a  70-year-old man to Bartlett Regional Hospital in Juneau. A 46-year-old man was also considered for transport but was eventually stabilized at the Haines clinic. 

These recent severe COVID cases highlight the limited f medical resources in small Southeast communities like Haines. 

SEARHC’s clinic in Haines has three ventilators, two treatment rooms, and eight exam rooms. They also offer monoclonal antibody therapy to boost the immune system and prevent severe illness from COVID. 

But it’s not a hospital; it can’t provide acute care for anyone needing to spend the night.

This comes as COVID is surging across Alaska. Last week Gov. Mike Dunleavy announced a crisis standard of care statewide, which gives guidelines for conserving resources for the state’s overwhelmed hospitals.

Haines reported COVID case count has declined over the last two weeks, with 12 active cases reported Monday. But for serious cases, patients are often flown to hospitals. 

Juneau’s 57-bed Bartlett Hospital reported it was at capacity last Friday. That’s improved with as many as six beds available as of Tuesday. But only one space is available in its critical care unit, according to the hospital dashboard that tracks capacity. 

Haines EOC commander Carolann Wooten says first responders are keeping an eye on availability of acute care at facilities across the Pacific Northwest. 

“It’s concerning. Because we know that as a clinic, we have a very small clinic and very limited resources. And if someone was to get very sick, they would likely be transported out of the community,” Wooten said. “If the hospitals that we would likely transport to such as Anchorage, Juneau, or Seattle, were being very taxed. It could become a problem for us, because then patients might not be able to be transported. And we know that is the case across the state of Alaska, all the hospitals are pretty much operating in a crisis mode at this point.” 

The Haines EOC and health officials continue to urge protection from the virus by wearing a mask, social distancing in public spaces, and the COVID vaccine for ages 12 and older.

“We don’t want people to get sick enough to have to be sent out. Because, you know, I was reading about what crisis mode means. I mean, in crisis care setup, and it basically means, you know, they have to decide who’s going to get care and who’s not. That’s kind of alarming,” she said.

Vaccine boosters are currently offered in Juneau and Anchorage for eligible patients. 

“Vaccination is still the very best choice,” Wooten said. “If you can get vaccinated, that would be advisable. And obviously, starting to limit your group of people that you’re around is a smart thing to do, because you just want to limit your social circle. Mask when you cannot be distanced from people.”

In Haines, SEARHC has not announced when boosters for people 65 and older, or in higher risk occupations would be available.

Haines reports 73 percent of the community is fully vaccinated, which is higher than the statewide rate of 59 percent. Masks are advisory in most of the community, but required in all borough and school facilities, the SEARHC clinic, and any business that requires it.