Commissioners at the June 20 meeting of the Hospital Commission heard mostly promising news about hospital operations, but Covid cases are also on the rise.
Hospital CEO Angie Shaw said instances of Covid have increased over the past several weeks. With 38 cases recorded, the hospital has again implemented safety protocols including plexiglass barriers and other measures.
“We want to provide an extra layer of safety for patients and staff,” she said.
In the comments period at the end of the meeting, Commission Chair Barbara Dicks urged everyone “not to let their guard down.” She said case numbers reported may not tell the whole story, because many people are home-testing and not reporting the results. A vaccination clinic was held at the hospital June 24.
Shaw’s report outlined continuing training for nurses. She also said new inpatient and outpatient services are coming to respiratory therapy. The hospital’s speech therapist has been approved for outpatient services.
The emergency room has seen record numbers of patients, and the hospital is advertising for additional staff, especially on the weekends. Numbers at the clinic have remained low, however, and the hospital will focus more attention on community awareness of the clinic’s hours and services.
Shaw said the hospital has had difficulties at times in transporting patients to other facilities for a higher level of care. She said some transport companies have closed in recent months. The hospital is looking into the possibility of creating its own transport service, although the commission heard some cautionary information about the levels of reimbursement from Medicaid and Medicare. Despite the potential problems, Shaw said the hospital sometimes has to wait two or three days for transports.