It is critical to ensure that Californians have access to the care they need in our hospitals. As hospitalizations increase, the state's hospitalization Public Health Order governs health care system protocols and surge capacity.
In past surges, hospital capacity was ensured because of the combined effects of the State's general public health measures and critical efforts to coordinate hospital response on a local, regional, and statewide level.
Monitoring and Reporting Health Care System Capacity
Hospitals must notify local public health officials and the Medical and Health Operational Area Coordinator (MHOAC) if they experience the following conditions:
- Have less than 20% of staffed adult Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds available for three consecutive days;
- Are utilizing alternative spaces for in-patient surge capacity, including but not limited to cafeteria, hallways, and/or conference rooms;
- Are utilizing tents or other outside structures for in-patient surge capacity for three consecutive days; or
Are utilizing a team nursing model for three consecutive days.
Regional Surge Orders Go into Effect When Needed
California’s health care system is divided into six regions. When hospitals within a region have less than 10% of staffed adult ICU beds available for a period of three consecutive days, or when an individual general acute care hospital has zero ICU capacity, then the following surge orders will apply for seven days:
All general acute care hospitals in the county who do have ICU bed capacity must accept transfer patients when clinically appropriate and directed by the Medical and Health Operational Area Coordinator (MHOAC).
All general acute care hospitals in the region who do have ICU bed capacity must accept transfer patients when clinically appropriate and directed by the Regional Disaster Medical Health Specialist (RDMHS).
If there is no ICU bed capacity within the region, then all general acute care hospitals in the State of California must accept transfer patients when clinically appropriate and directed by the California Emergency Medical Services Authority (EMSA) Director or designee.
Regional ICU Capacity (Data as of 01/18/2023)
Regional ICU Capacity Data is reported and posted on our website Monday through Friday, excluding weekends and major holidays.
California Statewide
| 24.6
| 7.2
| --
| --
| --
|
Bay Area
| 20.6
| 5.4
| --
| -- | --
|
| Greater Sacramento | 21.9
| 9.3
| --
| --
| -- |
| Northern California | 46.3
| 9.2
| --
| -- | --
|
| San Joaquin Valley | 20.8
| 9.9
| --
| --
| --
|
| Southern California | 26.1
| 7.1
| --
| --
| --
|
* Must be under 10% for 3 consecutive days to trigger Health Order.
** The region will be reevaluated seven days from the date the Health Order was triggered.
California Regions
Bay Area Region:
Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Monterey, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Solano, Sonoma
Alpine, Amador, Butte, Colusa, El Dorado, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Sacramento, Sierra, Sutter/Yuba, Yolo
Northern California Region:
Del Norte, Glenn, Humboldt, Lake, Lassen, Mendocino, Modoc, Shasta, Siskiyou, Tehama, Trinity
San Joaquin Valley Region:
Calaveras, Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, Mariposa, Merced, San Benito, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Tulare, Tuolumne
Southern California Region:
Imperial, Inyo, Los Angeles, Mono, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Ventura