Some Ohio hospitals are reeling from the recent uptick in COVID cases due to the delta variant on top of existing staffing shortages.
The Ohio Hospital Association’s John Palmer said two Southern Ohio hospitals have already hit their ICU capacity and he fears others could do the same soon. The problem, he said, is hospitals just don’t have enough staff.
“We have plans in place to help alleviate and what we call patient diversion strategies but frankly, if all of the other states around us are overwhelmed, and we are seeing other increases, it’s going to get very dire," Palmer said.
Southern Ohio Medical Center in Portsmouth posted to Facebook on Saturday that its ICU is at capacity and it is preparing alternate plans for critical patients as well as opening a fourth COVID unit.
Palmer said staff vaccination mandates are exacerbating the problem but he added it’s important to make sure medical workers are vaccinated.
He said health care workers who opt-out won’t necessarily be terminated but might have to test for COVID more frequently or wear more protective equipment.
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