As the COVID-19 virus continues to spread, some Indianapolis hospitals are trying to find bed space for potential patients.

INDIANAPOLIS (WTHR) - As the COVID-19 virus continues to spread, some Indianapolis hospitals are trying to find bed space for potential patients.

The sprawling IU Health Methodist Hospital has only six rooms available. To keep the virus from infecting other patients and caregivers, the Centers for Disease Control requires they be treated in specially equipped isolation rooms.

"So that is really a difficult thing, not only here but actually across the country." said Mary Kay Foster, a registered nurse and program manager of the hospital's special pathogen program.

She explained that the hospital is considering converting existing rooms to isolation rooms and, if necessary, creating additional bed space by switching single patient rooms back into doubles.

"It's not like throwing a bed into a single-patient room," she said. "These rooms are already set up to handle two patients as the same time."

Across the IU Health campus, a virtual clinic is running 24/7. Teams of registered nurses are answering video calls from people worried they might be infected with the coronavirus. In face-to-face conversations, the nurses ask about the caller's symptoms, where they've traveled and with whom they've had contact. Without the free help, Dr. Michele Saysana believes most callers would go to doctors’ offices, clinics and emergency rooms.

"That can be very problematic, especially when we are trying to also take care of other patients who need our care," Saysana said.

Hospitals preparing for a potential coronavirus outbreak, while not neglecting the needs of existing patients, has become a daily challenge.

"Right now we are plum full of patients that are really, really sick. So were to we make room for the new ones?" Foster asked. "These are difficult discussions that happen almost continuously."

By Wednesday afternoon, the IU Health Virtual Clinic had "seen" 850 patients.

To access the virtual clinic:

Download the free IU Health Virtual Visits app (Google Play or iTunes) or enroll on your computer.

Enroll by creating a free login and completing your personal profile.

Connect with the virtual hub, select “Coronavirus Screen” and find the appropriate pathway for care.