OLEAN, N.Y. –– Upper Allegheny Health System officials continue to monitor their resources during the pandemic, they said Monday.
The medical system provided an update to the public on Monday in response to an announcement by Gov. Andrew Cuomo that day. Upper Allegheny officials explained that Cuomo announced that hospitals across New York state were expected to increase their capacity by 25%.
“Our plans to deal with COVID-19 remain consistent with what we faced in the spring, focusing on four key issues: personnel, equipment and supplies, testing capacity and space planning,” said Dr. William Mills, chief medical officer for Upper Allegheny Health System.
According to Mills, Upper Allegheny, which includes Bradford Regional Medical Center and Olean General Hospital, has the ability to increase capacity within its system by 25%.
“The Governor’s directive is not new,” he said. “In the spring we increased it by 50% as required by New York State.”
As of 1 p.m. Monday, between the two hospitals there were 27 current inpatients receiving treatment for confirmed COVID-19, and six of them are receiving ICU care.
Bradford Regional Medical Center right now has 11 inpatients confirmed to have COVID-19, two in ICU and nine in the medical unit. Four more in-house patients are under investigation as possible cases, and nine patients were tested but are negative.
At Olean General Hospital, there are 16 confirmed cases currently in-house, four in ICU and 12 in the medical unit. Four more in-house patients are under investigation, and five were tested but are negative.
“UAHS teams continue to review preparedness plans in the event of a winter surge in patients at Olean General Hospital and Bradford Regional Medical Center,” Mills said. “Currently both hospitals have capacity for both medical/surgical patients and COVID-19 patients.
“BRMC has opened a dedicated COVID-19 patient care unit to segment patients in the event of further upticks COVID patients, similar to OGH which has had a dedicated COVID-19 patient care unit since the beginning of the pandemic. Another BRMC hospital patient care unit will serve non-covid inpatients,” he said.
Mills noted the organization plans for the worst and hopes for the best as it waits to see if a post-Thanksgiving COVID-19 surge happens.
“With the ICU capability at OGH through its intensivist program (specialists in critical care), we don’t anticipate having to send patients to Buffalo nor do we expect patients from Erie County (NY),”
Elective surgeries are still happening at both BRMC and OGH.
Mills noted that Buffalo, N.Y.,-based Kaleida Health, parent company of Upper Allegheny, is “planning efforts in Buffalo to increase capacity including re-opening beds, adding additional ICU beds, converting old hospital rooms and utilizing ambulatory surgery space.
“We are in continual communication with Kaleida Health relative to COVID-19 patient status and bed capacity. Across the history of our relationship with Kaleida Health we have moved patients between facilities depending on patient need and the level of specialized care needed for individual patients.”
BRMC and OGH each have a 90-day supply of personal protective equipment (PPE), which Mills said meets New York state requirements.
“Our priority remains protecting our staff so they can protect patients,” he said. “Staff at all hospitals have been impacted by COVID. Over the course of the pandemic nearly all OGH and BRMC employees who tested positive for COVID-19 have gone through quarantine and have returned to work.”
Additionally, following guidance from New York state, Upper Allegheny is contacting retirees and others to create a team of health professionals to serve as a reserve team if cases surge.
“As always we offer our deepest gratitude to our outstanding staff and physicians who have shown day in and day out that they are dedicated to the patients and the community we serve,” he said.
Mills shared this advice for the community: “For your own protections and out of respect for healthcare workers caring for patients, wear your masks, social distance, wash your hands and avoid gatherings.”
