State of the System: High Census of Patients With RSV & Respiratory Illness

By Press release submission

Nov 11, 2022

Cook Children's is currently experiencing a surge in patients diagnosed with RSV, flu and other respiratory illnesses – this is impacting our ability to care for our patients in a timely manner. Other hospitals and children's hospitals around the country are also experiencing high number of RSV and respiratory illnesses.

The Cook Children's Health Care System census is full across the board, including beds, the Emergency Department and Urgent Care Centers. The sheer volume has made finding a bed for our patients a daily logistical puzzle. According to the Texas Hospital Association, pediatric hospital beds across the state are currently 88% occupied.

Urgent Care Centers

We had 728 visits across our seven Urgent Care Center locations on Wednesday. If your child is ill, please contact your pediatrician's office first if it’s not a moderate or severe illness or injury.

If you can’t get to your provider’s office or it’s after hours, go to an urgent care center. Urgent care centers manage the same problems as your regular health care provider plus services such as X-rays, stitches and splints.

Understand that kids with more severe issues will be seen first and that means long wait times for those with minor illness.

Staff are overwhelmed and they’re encountering a lot of frustrated parents. Please be nice to the people working – they need kindness!

Emergency Department

We saw 623 patients in the ED yesterday, which is equivalent to one check in every 2 minutes. The influx of patients is causing long wait times (8-10 hours) to be transferred to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. This is putting unnecessary strain on the health care system.

Cook Children’s has expedited our winter staffing plan in preparation for peak flu season.

We ask parents and caregivers to contact their pediatrician first if it’s not a moderate or severe illness or injury.

Bring your child to the emergency room if he/she has trouble breathing, unusual sleepiness or confusion, poison ingestion, head injury with vomiting, serious burn or another life-threatening condition. Please understand that kids with more severe issues will be seen first and that means long wait times for those with minor illnesses.

Pediatrician Offices

Call your pediatrician first if children are experiencing mild symptoms or injuries (ear pain, sore throat, diarrhea or vomiting, rash, cough or other non-urgent health concerns). The pediatrician’s office can help you decide what steps to take.

Preparation/Prevention

The increase in RSV and influenza began much earlier than usual this year, but we have yet to reach peak flu season. With Thanksgiving approaching, we want to help parents understand what they can do to prevent the spread of illnesses.

As we prepare for the flu season to worsen, make an appointment with your pediatrician to get updated flu and COVID vaccines. Vaccines help prevent infection and can prevent serious outcomes in people who are vaccinated but still get sick with the flu. The vaccines also reduce the risk of hospitalization. Get updated flu and COVID vaccines – these will help prevent infection and reduce the risk of hospitalization. You can call your pediatrician to schedule an appointment to receive vaccinations.

Remind your children to continue the healthy habits learned in the pandemic, including hand hygiene, coughing into a tissue or your elbow and staying home if you or your child feel sick.

There is a nationwide shortage of RSV tests. RSV testing doesn’t change the way in which most children are treated/managed.

RSV cases at Cook Children’s Health Care System: