Local Hospitals Respond To COVID Crisis

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Upstate hospitals are topping state news as the COVID-19 pandemic strains resources downstate and the governor looks for help meeting the need for not only beds, but supplies.

Governor Andrew Cuomo confirmed some downstate patients have already been transferred to Albany Medical Center and Ellis Hospital in Schenectady and he said the transport of patients from areas under stress to areas with more available beds will continue, in whatever direction is appropriate, as the pandemic continues. 

Cuomo has been talking with hospital administrators around the state, calling for a single, coordinated system to meet the public health emergency. This week he said he’d be issuing an executive order requiring upstate hospitals to inventory and report their surplus supplies. He wants 20% of that surplus available to the state for a stockpile to be distributed by the National Guard wherever it is needed.

He said over the weekend that hospitals tend to think in terms of 60 to 90 days’ supplies. Now, the governor said, some of the downstate hospitals are facing a stockpile of supplies that will last for only two to four days.

“If I’m sitting in upstate New York,” the Cuomo continued, “and see a fire elsewhere, let’s put it out. If it gets to you, every available hose in the state will be sent to you. We talk about the family of New York. I must have said that a million times. Well, this is the time the family has to come together, not just out of love, but out of necessity. You cannot handle this without your brothers and sisters.”The plan drew fire from a bipartisan group of upstate legislators on Sunday, including Congressman Antonio Delgado and Senators Jen Metzger and George Amedore, who sent a press release expressing “grave concern” about taking supplies from rural hospitals, which they said were already under strain.

“We stand ready to help our fellow New Yorkers,” the release said, “but moving needed ventilators from our region now would be devastating and counter intuitive to all data on the spread of COVID-19. We will continue to work together to do everything in our power to make sure folks in our region have every single thing they need to get through this health crisis.”

Area hospitals have already increased their capacity to comply with the governor’s order to add an additional 50% to their usual number of beds. Karen Huxtable-Hooker, public relations director for the Bassett Healthcare System, said each of the five hospitals in the network have been working to increase hospital capacity since COVID-19 was first declared an international public health emergency almost two months ago. The system, she said, has submitted a plan for that 50% increase as well as a plan that could increase capacity by 100%.

“The network could accommodate a 50% increase in capacity fairly quickly; a 100% increase is more challenging given the significant equipment and staffing needs, and the need to identify and renovate additional areas or buildings that could be used for patient care. This work continues.”

The postponement of elective surgeries at all hospitals in the state has resulted in an increase of available beds.

Huxtable said, in an email, that the beds are spread through the Bassett system.

“The numbers provided in the analysis to the Commissioner indicate that the Bassett network can provide approximately 145 beds devoted to COVID-19 expansion with the majority of those beds at the Bassett Medical Center in Cooperstown and the rest available at Fox Hospital in Oneonta, O’Connor Hospital in Delhi, Cobleskill Regional Hospital and Little Falls Hospital.”

Director of Community Relations for UHS Delaware Valley Hospital Dotti Kruppo said the hospital has complied with the order to increase capacity, and has also added an additional four negative pressure rooms to isolate COVID-19 patients. Kruppo said late last week that supplies are something they’re watching carefully.

“So far we are okay, but as you are aware, there is a shortage across the country, so we are being very judicious in how we use both supplies and PPE. We did receive some PPE from the state this week.”

Huxtable also said they are being careful in the Bassett system, but so far their supplies are adequate, and they are anticipating a delivery of more from the state. 

She added that the pandemic has also led to some temporary regulatory changes that increase the number of ICU beds available in the Bassett network.

“Bassett Medical Center is the only hospital in the Bassett network with an intensive care unit. However, under the state mandate and during this pandemic, regulations have been modified to allow hospitals without a licensed ICU to equip and repurpose beds and areas of their facilities to accommodate patients needing ICU care.”

Tents in the hospital parking lots have been set up for future need should a surge occur. At this point, both Bassett and Delaware Valley Hospital say they are testing only seriously ill patients.

Kruppo, in a letter to the editor dated April 1, thanked the community for its support during this emergency.

“On behalf of the physicians, advance practice providers, nurses, therapists, technicians and support staff we, the senior management team of UHS Delaware Valley Hospital wish to thank everyone for the wonderful show of support we have all received from people and organizations throughout our community. Some are sewing masks, others have donated masks and other personal protective equipment and still others have donated food for our staff. Many who have donated food have done so by purchasing it from local restaurants, also supporting them through this difficult time. Two people came today to stand in our parking lot with thank you signs. Words cannot express our gratitude for these messages of encouragement and demonstrations of support. They mean so much to all of us and is very uplifting during these uncertain times.”