Ohio Valley’s President Steve Eisentrager said that his staff will be able to assemble quickly in order to perform critical surgeries. Especially, he added, if other hospitals in the area were to become bogged down or overwhelmed with coronavirus cases.
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In addition, he said they have been engaging in talks with representatives of Mercy Health, which operates the Springfield Regional Medical Center, as well as Kettering Health, which operates the Soin Medical Center in Beavercreek, in case Ohio Valley needs to provide additional support to those facilities.
“We have the ability to be able to ramp up very quickly and that is an asset that we can use to help the community as well as other health facilities,” Eisentrager said.
However, he said he does not anticipate opening up Ohio Valley’s facility in order to take in coronavirus cases unless other area hospitals become overwhelmed.
Eisentrager said assistance can be in the form of providing additional supplies to other hospitals if there becomes a shortage due to a spike in coronavirus cases.
Representatives of Mercy Health told the News-Sun that they have established a COVID-19, also known as the coronavirus, task force that is working with each of its properties. That includes monitoring current supplies and equipment at its hospitals that would be used to help combat the coronavirus. For Springfield Regional, that includes making sure that personal protective equipment and ventilators are readily available along with other crucial resources.
“We are resourcing from around the globe and following Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines on appropriate usage. In addition, we are working collaboratively with other health care and government agencies through this unprecedented event,” said a statement sent from representatives with Mercy Health.
With Springfield Regional being the only acute care hospital in the area, Mercy-Health Springfield President Adam Groshans said it is important for them to be ready for a potential surge in patients as result of the coronavirus pandemic.
He said they have been in contact with Ohio Valley just in case his hospital needs to use some of those resources.
In addition, roughly 300 Ohio Valley employees will be temporarily furloughed as a result of the hospital cutting back on patient services for the time being. However, Ohio Valley officials said 25 will remain to provide as needed services that are unrelated to elective surgeries.
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Groshans said Springfield Regional is looking at ways to call upon some of Ohio Valley’s employees that will be furloughed in case there is a need for additional staff to manage patients in the community.
In addition, representatives of Mercy Health said that their hospitals are currently screening all patients at care entry points via a patient questionnaire. They are also asking for people to not visit their facilities, including senior services and long-term care locations. However, exceptions will be considered based on end-of-life situations or when a visitor is essential for the patient’s emotional well-being and care.
Representatives of Kettering Health said they have established a Network Incident Command Center to allow them to manage patients needs as well as hospital resources during this time.
“As part of this, the teams are creating contingency plans to address a potential surge of patients that includes both staffing needs and facilities,” Kettering Health Spokesperson Elizabeth Long said in an email to the News-Sun.
In addition, Long said Kettering Health is working with other hospitals and agencies to prepare for the possible surge in coronavirus cases.
“Led by the Greater Dayton Area Hospital Association, all local healthcare organizations are working together to develop a community-wide surge plan,” she added.
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