Hospitals across Colorado are preparing for a possible surge in hospitalizations due to COVID-19 by creating a hospital transfer center. 

Colorado Hospitals, in partnership with the Colorado Hospital Association, announced the transfer center on Wednesday and say it’ll be activated if the number of patients hospitalized needing to be transferred exceeds the capacity of facilities. 

“There are a number of issues that CHA and Colorado’s hospitals have been working on to try to ensure that health system capacity is protected, supplies are available and that patients can go to the nearest hospitals knowing that the hospital will help ensure care is available,” said Darlene Tad-y, MD, CHA vice president of clinical affairs in a media release.

Officials say that Colorado’s modeling shows that if the current transmission rate continues, that state hospitalization numbers from April could be surpassed by the middle of November, according to the release. 

Members of the CHTC and CHA say that having a plan as winter approaches is essential, and will use a data-driven process that will allow patients to make best use of the health care system, protect others and access the medical attention one may need. 

When a hospital reaches max capacity and cannot provide a person with treatment, they will direct the person to call the CHTC, who will determine what hospital in the region or state can provide the care needed.

Tad-y said other states across the country have implemented similar transfer centers and observed the benefits of the system.

“One of the best practices we learned from other states that have already responded to significant outbreaks was to stand up a statewide transfer center. This will allow us to respond rapidly to capacity issues that a city or region of Colorado may face and to ensure that we are fully utilizing the capacity of our state’s entire hospital system. Throughout the pandemic, Colorado hospitals and health systems have worked collaboratively to care for Coloradans, and the CHTC will further that effort if hospital capacity emerges as an issue.”