By Associated Press - Friday, February 22, 2019

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) - Officials say hospitals in Billings are seeing an unusually high number of patients.

The Billings Gazette reports the Billings Clinic is at more than 110 percent capacity, resulting in officials setting up patient beds in a conference room and hallways in the emergency department to handle the overflow.

Billings Clinic Chief Medical Officer Robert Merchant says the facility now has the highest number of patients he’s seen during his tenure.



St. Vincent Healthcare Chief Medical Officer Michael Bush says the hospital also has a high number of patients.

Bush says people with non-emergency problems should visit one of the hospital’s walk-in clinics instead of going to the emergency department.

Merchant says the Billings Clinic is able manage the increase in patients, but the situation is affecting the facility’s flows.

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Information from: The Billings Gazette, http://www.billingsgazette.com

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