After Colorado's hospital transfer system was raised to tier 3, the highest level, patients may be transferred from any hospital in the state without their consent, 9 News reported Nov. 8.

A provision in legislation passed Oct. 30 by Tennessee lawmakers has sparked concern from hospitals in the state.

A hospital in Long Beach, Calif., is closing its emergency department and ending acute medical services, a move that allows it to avoid about $75 million in upgrades needed to meet seismic requirements. 

Salt Lake City-based Intermountain Primary Children's Hospital has seen an "extremely high numbers of patients for many months," and is delaying all nonemergency inpatient and outpatient surgeries and procedures through Nov. 28, according to a Nov. 4 news release.

Hospitals and health systems in Colorado will now coordinate patient transfers on a statewide level as high COVID-19 patient volumes create mounting concerns about hospital capacity, the Colorado Hospital Association said Nov. 3. 

Benedictine St. Gertrude's in Shakopee, Minn., is the first skilled nursing facility in Minnesota to partner with the state in an effort to relieve hospitals overwhelmed by an increasing number of COVID-19 patients, according to a Nov. 2 press release. 

COVID-19 hospitalizations in Colorado hit their highest levels of 2021, baffling some experts as virus cases and hospitalizations decline nationally, Fox affiliate KDVR reported Nov. 1.

Colorado will allow the state's health department to order hospitals and freestanding emergency departments to transfer or cease the admission of and redirect patients to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to 9News.

One of HCA Healthcare's hospitals in Plantation, Fla., will stop providing inpatient care and convert to a freestanding emergency room operating under the direction of a nearby medical center, the company announced Oct. 27. 

MaineHealth is rescheduling some nonemergency procedures, part of a number of steps the organization is taking in response to the capacity issues, the Portland-based system said Oct. 26.

COVID-19 hospitalizations have fallen 19 percent percent in the last two weeks, but hospitals in some states are still struggling to treat high volumes of virus patients.

Olean (N.Y.) General Hospital has suspended nonemergency surgeries because of staff shortages, The Bradford Era reported Oct. 26.

The Florida Hospital Association declared an end to the summer surge of the coronavirus's delta variant based on hospitalizations statewide. 

Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts announced Oct. 21 the state will lift its ban on elective surgeries effective Oct. 22, citing a declining number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients, according to ABC affiliate KETV.

York Hospital will temporarily suspend emergency-level care at its walk-in facility in Wells, Maine, amid a staffing shortage, The Portsmouth Herald reported.

Several healthcare organizations have closed medical departments or ended services at facilities to shore up finances, focus on more in-demand services or prevent patient care lapses. 

New Mexico has activated crisis standards of care for healthcare facilities across the state, according to the Albuquerque Journal.

Springfield, Mo.-based Mercy Hospital reported no new COVID-19 admissions Oct. 17, the first day without a new coronavirus patient since July, according to an Oct. 18 tweet from Erik Frederick, the hospital's chief administrative officer. 

Bayfront Health Seven Rivers, a 128-bed hospital in Crystal River, Fla., will end obstetrical and newborn services and close its labor and delivery unit Feb. 11, 2022, the Citrus County Chronicle reported Oct. 14.

Chicago-based Mercy Hospital & Medical Center stopped receiving fire department ambulances earlier this year, meaning local residents have one less emergency care location and ambulances are inundating University of Illinois Hospital, according to The Chicago Tribune.