COVID-19: Nationwide Children’s to start admitting young adults to help other hospitals – The Columbus Dispatch

Max Filby |The Columbus Dispatch

Nationwide Children's Hospital could soon admit some adult patients as beds at other medical centers fill up due to the coronavirus.

As of Monday, Nationwide Children's will admit anyone age 26 and under if they are referred to the hospital by either OhioHealth, Mount Carmel Health System or Ohio State University's Wexner Medical Center. Adults should first seek emergency treatment at an adult emergency department, according to a prepared statement from Nationwide Children's.

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Nationwide Children's new policy excludes patients who are suffering from COVID-19.

"In the spirit of local collaboration during this unprecedented pandemic, Nationwide Childrens Hospital has the ability to temporarily admit select young adult patients," the statement reads.

Nationwide Children's already treats some adults with congenital diseases, such as cystic fibrosis and cerebral palsy, among others.

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"We are fully equipped to take care of this particular patient population," the statement reads.

Nationwide Children's policy change comes as new COVID-19 cases andhospitalizations continue to climb around Ohio.

As of Monday, 3,387 Ohioans remained hospitalized with the virus, including 850 in intensive care units and 407on ventilators, according to the Ohio Department of Health.

Doctors have long warned that unless cases start to decrease, hospitals could struggle to keep up with needs. Plans to turn the Greater Columbus Convention center into a temporary medical facility were developed earlier this year but have yet to be used.

mfilby@dispatch.com

@MaxFilby

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COVID-19: Nationwide Children's to start admitting young adults to help other hospitals - The Columbus Dispatch