Memorial Hospital is now off its diversion alert, though officials say the hospital remains very busy.
Late Thursday afternoon, officials at Memorial Hospital issued a diversion alert, meaning the hospital could soon experience a shortage of appropriate beds. Hospital spokesperson Melanie Ziegler confirmed the diversion alert was canceled Thursday night.
“We are still very busy, but no extra measures for diversion,” Ziegler said today.
Dr. Victor Trianfo, chief medical officer for Memorial Hospital, explained the hospital can issue a diversion alert or move to full diversion.
Trianfo said staff look at how many patients are in the emergency department or are on the way and how many might need monitored beds, compared to how many are eligible for discharge.
“When the patient need exceeds or comes close to exceeding our resources, we issue the diversion alert or diversion,” Trianfo said. “When we feel like there could be a mismatch of resources, we go on a diversion alert.”
When the hospital issues a diversion alert, EMS and first responders are notified. Patients in transport who meet certain qualifications are given the choice to go to a different hospital.
Patients who are unstable are “absolutely not” given the option.
“They come to the hospital,” Trianfo said. “If they are questionable, they also just come here.”
He said patients with conditions like lacerations, or simple arm or leg injuries are given the option.
Trianfo said the situation is updated every four hours. The hospital can remain on diversion alert, move to diversion or cancel the alert. Trianfo said there is no formula for issuing the diversion alert.
“It is all by feel,” he said.
Memorial Hospital has 92 total beds and 32 monitored beds. Trianfo said monitored beds are the critical distinction. He said not all beds are appropriate for all patients. He explained a heart patient cannot use a pediatric bed and a woman in labor needs to have an obstetrics bed.
Monitored beds are those with the capability of monitoring cardiac patients.
“Diversion is the next step,” Trianfo said. “We would move to diversion when diversion alert has not been successful and when all monitored beds are full.”
At that point, patients are not given the choice and the hospital cannot take additional patients.
He said it has been more than a year since the hospital last issued a diversion alert and it has been “well over a year” since the hospital has needed to divert patients.
“It is not something that occurs often at all,” Trianfo said.
He said the hospital is busy right now for a variety of reasons, but the recent flu outbreak is likely the largest of them.
“These things come in waves and this is a high volume wave,” Trianfo said. “There is any number of factors. There is the inclement weather. There has just been a large number of patients needing hospitalized. Not all of this is due to influenza.”
He said all of the surrounding communities, including Columbus, “are having the same issues we are having.”
He added hospital officials are making plans for a potentially busy weekend.
“We will be holding staff over if necessary,” Trianfo said.
Trianfo said in severe road conditions, the hospital still has an obligation to care for patients.
He said the hospital is making accommodations for those staff members being held over.
Memorial Hospital designates employees as essential and non-essential. He said responses and responsibilities of both essential and non-essential varies depending on the snow emergency level issued by the county sheriff.
He said the hospital or even sheriff’s deputies can help essential staff get to the hospital. Essential staff can also be asked to stay additional hours to cover for personnel who cannot make it to the hospital.