Hospitals monitor capacity, selective procedures as COVID surges continue

Rome Memorial Hospital continues elective surgery and other procedures despite increasing numbers of COVID-19 patients, but Utica and New Hartford-based Mohawk Valley Health System announced on Monday We are suspending non-essential procedures at this time.

The MVHS announcement came when Oneida County announced a record number of new cases for the second consecutive day, 323 new positive tests were reported on Thursday, and a sixth COVID-related death was reported. It was. The highest number before it was announced on Wednesday was 317.

There are currently 227 deaths associated with COVID-19 in Oneida County.

In the new case, Oneida County has 5,305 known active cases.

More positive tests and cases may reflect that far more tests are currently being performed than in the early days of the pandemic, where tests were reserved for people with symptoms. However, hospitalizations and deaths returned to or exceeded the number of springs, with more than four days of death for three consecutive days, lasting five days from December 13. Most of the deaths reported in the county on the 1st were 7 on June 10.

Fifteen patients with COVID-19 were being treated at the Rome Memorial Hospital as of Thursday, and 155 were being treated with MVHS. Residents of another 11 counties were treated outside the county.

The county did not release COVID data on New Year’s holidays.

The MVHS decision to suspend steps not needed to protect life and limbs frees nurses and other direct care personnel from preoperative areas and operating rooms to support nurses directly on the care floor. MVHS Chief Physician Executive Kent Hall said it would. Thursday media briefing.

MVHS operates St. Luke’s and St. Elizabeth Hospitals in New Hartford and Utica, respectively, as well as a network of non-hospital clinics and services.

On December 9, the hospital system brought in travel agency nurses as soon as possible, contacted past employees, including those who were recently dismissed, brought nursing students during the winter, and more. Announced that it has taken some steps to extend the number. break.

The Roman Memorial is monitoring capacity but can continue to offer selective procedures, spokeswoman Kathy Winter told Daily Sentinel.

Like other hospitals in New York, the Roman Memorial has expanded the capacity of both general and intensive care unit beds, as directed by Governor Andrew Cuomo. According to Winter, the actual capacity is fluid and depends on the staff.

As of Wednesday, there were 14 COVID patients in the Rome Memorial, according to the Oneida County Government.

According to the state’s COVID-19 dashboard as of Wednesday, hospitals in the Mohawk Valley area of ​​the six counties have a capacity of approximately 75% for both general and ICU beds.

According to Winter, the Rome Memorial continues to be vaccinated against COVID-19, with approximately 60% of its staff vaccinated as of mid-week.

Most of the staff were vaccinated with Moderna, but some were vaccinated with Physer because they were vaccinated at MVHS, a state-designated vaccination hub hospital in Oneida County.

In addition, the Roman Memorial, in collaboration with Walgreens pharmacies to administer the Pfizer vaccine, began vaccination of residents and staff of hospital housing care facilities on Wednesday. Nearly 85% of long-term care facility residents choose to be vaccinated. Walgreens personnel will return within three weeks to give residents and staff a second dose.

“For our residents, vaccines are of greater value than simply protecting them from the risk of this deadly virus,” said home care facility manager Anthony Joseph. “Vaccines offer the promise of seeing their loved ones meet again.”

Hospitals are also vaccinating others who are currently eligible under state guidelines. This week includes high-risk staff at the state psychiatric center.

State agencies for emergency medical service personnel, coroners and coroners, funeral workers in direct contact with infectious agents, emergency health care providers, vaccinated staff, and people with developmental disabilities, mental health and mental health Collective living staff and resident drug abuse services to operate.

The list has been expanded this week to include front-line healthcare providers for all community-based outpatients, and patient-facing staff are eligible to schedule COVID-19 vaccine appointments. They include, but are not limited to, primary care, outpatient behavioral medical services, substance abuse facilities, bloodletting specialists, physiotherapists and occupational therapists, and specialized clinics.