This week, the Los Angeles County Emergency Health Services Agency released updated guidance advising paramedics and emergency medical technicians (EMTs) to not transport patients with a slim chance of survival.

Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital emergency room director Dr. Tracy “Bud” Lawrence said Santa Clarita hospital is not directly impacted by the change because those decisions are called in the field before reaching the ER.

“We see all patients that enter the emergency room,” Lawrence said. “This guidance mainly affects what happens before patients arrive at the hospital.”

Due to “the severe impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on EMS and 9-1-1 receiving hospitals,” EMTs are ordered to not transport patients whose heart stops beating and cannot be resurrected in the field, according to the guidance released Monday.

Los Angeles County has reached over 8,000 COVID-19 hospitalizations as of Wednesday, with 99 patients at Henry Mayo, the highest number since the pandemic started.

“Hospitals are declaring internal disasters and having to open churches and gyms to serve as hospital units,” County Supervisor Hilda Solis said this week. “Our health care workers are physically and mentally exhausted and sick.”

See Related: L.A. County COVID-19 Hospitalizations Reach ‘Critical Levels,’ Deaths Surpass 11,000

Lawrence added Henry Mayo is in a better situation than other area hospitals, including those in the San Fernando Valley, due to preparation and a recently-built patient tower, opening just months before the COVID-19 pandemic reached Santa Clarita.

“We are certainly impacted by COVID-19 but are fairing better than other areas,” he said. “Preparedness and extra room from the patient tower eased some of that.”

The doctor noted COVID-19 patients are not being treated in the emergency room. Once identified, they are quarantined on a dedicated floor of the patient tower which is able to provide intensive care unit-level care without taking away beds in the ICU.

Lawrence urged Santa Clarita residents to not delay care in fear of COVID-19, especially in cases when minutes can change the patient’s outcome.

“Please come to the ER if you are in need of care,” he said. “In some cases, we have limited time to intervene.”

As Henry Mayo and the Santa Clarita Valley weather the storm of the COVID-19 pandemic, Lawrence reminded the community to continue the basic prevention measures of the virus.

“Avoid large gatherings, we are still seeing patients related to Thanksgiving, and are expecting another rise,” he said. “Please wear your mask.”

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