Officials with Upper Allegheny Health Systems said Tuesday that both Bradford and Olean, N.Y., hospitals are in good shape at the moment for handling the COVID-19 pandemic.
A statement released by Dr. William Mills, chief medical officer, said that as of 1 p.m. Tuesday, there were 4 confirmed COVID-19 patients in Bradford Regional Medical Center — two in intensive care and two in the medical unit — 5 patients at the facility that are under investigation and 9 patients who were tested, but negative.
At Olean General Hospital, there were 19 patients with confirmed cases — 2 in intensive care and 17 in the medical unit — 2 patients that are under investigation and 14 who were tested, but negative.
“COVID-19 positive cases within the community and at our hospitals continue to rise consistent with hospitals everywhere,” Mills said. “Currently, we still have enough capacity to run day-to-day operations and, at the same time, care for COVID-19 patients while keeping patients and our workforce safe. At this time, elective surgery at both Bradford Regional Medical Center and Olean General Hospital continue.”
They do not expect patients from Erie County, N.Y., to be sent to Olean or Bradford, as Gov. Andrew Cuomo indicated may happen on Monday.
“We are in continual communication with Kaleida Health relative to COVID-19 patient status and daily review of bed capacity,” Mills continued. UAHS is a member of Kaleida’s hospital system.
“While we recognize the increase in hospitalizations in Pennsylvania and New York, OGH and BRMC are in good shape in regards to bed capacity at this time,” Mills stated.
“Like all hospital systems, the key to dealing with the pandemic is having adequate staffing, sufficient testing capacity, and space planning efforts as well as supplies and equipment,” he continued. “Our biggest priority is to protect our staff so they can protect patients. Staff at all hospitals have been impacted by COVID. At this time, the number of hospitalized patients is manageable.”
Both Bradford and Olean hospitals have a full 90-day supply of personal protective equipment, the doctor explained, “and are fully capable of ramping up COVID-19 bed capacity within 48 hours, as we did in the spring, if we experience a surge.”
Mills went on to explain that both Bradford and Olean benefit from the fact that intensivists — specialists in the care of critically ill patients — staff the intensive care unit at Olean General Hospital, “which is unique for a rural hospital. Over the course of the pandemic, our patient care teams have become very proficient in caring for COVID patients.
“Fortunately, we are not seeing the demand nor need for as much ICU utilization as we had back in the spring,” Mill said. “That said, this does not diminish the seriousness of the situation.
We continue to measure and monitor the daily impact of increasing cases on our hospital system capacity.”
On behalf of UAHS, Mills commended the staff and physicians at both hospitals “for their humanity, courage, and commitment to our communities” during this difficult time.
“While we are confident in dealing with this second wave, we still need the community’s help,” he said. “Wear your masks, social distance, wash your hands and avoid gatherings; if not for anything else, to help protect the frontline healthcare workers who deal with COVID-19 every day.”
