It's a scary situation for some patients. Some Valley hospitals are turning people away because they’re too overwhelmed by an increase in patients and a strain in resources from COVID-19.
"There’s been an increase in diversions probably over the last month," says Capt. Kenny Overton with Phoenix Fire.
When a hospital goes on diversion that means they’re not taking in emergency transports and they'd have to go to another hospital, meaning some people have to wait longer for care.
Overton says this shouldn't impact critical care patients his crews are trying to transport, like those suffering heart attacks that need immediate care.
"We let our patients know that hospitals are on diversion in the case of the non-acute calls," Overton explains. "The patient has the ability to decide if they want to go to that hospital knowing there’s going to be an extended wait time."
Banner Health confirms 10 of their hospitals went on diversion Monday and recorded six on Tuesday morning.