Memorial Hospital urges action as hospitalizations surge

ByLocal Sources Reading Time: 2 minutes

Although some believe “Covid-19 is over,” caregivers at Memorial Hospital and Health Care Center have experienced quite the opposite. The hospital listed a number of issues occurring in an effort to help the community understand what is happening at Hoosier hospitals.

Here are a few issues hospitals are seeing right now.

  • Indiana hospitals are seeing their highest-ever overall patient counts amid a month-long Covid-19 surge. Unfortunately, Memorial Hospital and other regional hospitals are no different.
  • Memorial Hospital cancelled several elective surgeries on Tuesday, December 14, due to the lack of available hospital beds and additional staffing. Hospitals throughout the state of Indiana are experiencing the same concerns.
  • National Guard medics and support staff are being deployed to Indiana hospitals to assist with staffing. Memorial Hospital had six soldiers onsite from November 4, 2021, to December 2, 2021. Hospitals throughout the state have requested and received additional support.
  • Transfers and referrals are impacted when a higher level of care hospitals are at capacity. Patients throughout Indiana are being held in emergency departments until beds are available, increasing the time to receive care. Memorial Hospital has transferred patients as far away as Cleveland, Ohio, Crown Point, Indiana, and Memphis, Tennessee.
  • With hospitals reaching capacity, staffing concerns are heightened. Memorial Hospital and Health Care Center has utilized their emergency management tool to reach out to all hospital staff to see who is able to assist throughout the next several weeks.

SO, WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP?

1. Get vaccinated. Covid-19 vaccines are safe, and they remain the most effective tool available to fight the virus that causes COVID-19. Covid-19 vaccines are available for anyone age 5 years and older at no cost. To schedule a vaccine, visit http://www.ourshot.in.gov.

2. If you are fully vaccinated and eligible for your booster, visit http://www.ourshot.in.gov to schedule.

3. We are asking you to return back to the methods that have been known to reduce the spread of Covid-19.
a. Wear a mask while indoors
b. Social distance
c. Avoid large crowds and poorly ventilated areas
d. Wash your hands frequently with soap and water
e. Stay home if you are not feeling well.
f. Be kind to others… especially our hospital caregivers.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

1. NEVER delay care for emergent issues such as chest pain, stroke symptoms, and cancer. Delaying care can have life-altering consequences.

2. Masks are required at all Memorial Hospital and Health Care Center locations. Memorial Hospital and Health Care Center continues to take precautions to keep patients, patient families, and hospital caregivers safe.

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4 Comments

  1. Thank you so much for making everyone aware of the gravity of the situation. People should continue to be very cautious and consider their fellow Americans and more importantly their health care workers. With hospitals being at full capacity, everyone needs to realize it may be difficult for non COVID patients to receive the care they may need.
    Our health care workers are tired of COVID, too, but they continue to do their job and care for those in need. Let’s do our job and not take unnecessary risks. God wants us to care for our bodies and listen to those who know. Please don’t think it can’t happen to you; it can happen to anyone.
    Thank you.
    Thank you health care workers.

  3. Interesting that the #1 way listed for the general public to help is to get vaccinated, while ALL healthcare workers are not vaccinated and some are the most vocal critics!

  4. Reply to Mike S. Because they are just like the other unvaccinated. They are supitly given “it’s their right not to be vaccinated”. I am a healthcare worker. To me it’s getting old real fast that unvaccinated and in vaccinated healthcare workers who get sick should stay home and treat themselves. Stay out of a hospital where the vaccinated can receive the ventilator they need. I don’t need any preaching that “it’s my right not to be vaccinated”. It’s my right not to die trying to take care of those people also. If I end up in a hospital you bet your bottom I will only want vaccinated staff taking care of me. It’s my right isn’t it?

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