Monroe County’s number of new coronavirus cases dropped to 289 on Monday…but following record numbers in the 700s over the New Year’s Weekend, Rochester-area health systems said they’re taking measures to make sure enough staff is available to handle the influx of COVID-19 patients.
UR Medicine said that’s why it’s stopping elective surgeries at its Sawgrass Drive Medical Center in Brighton as previously reported. Staff is being moved to UR Medicine system hospitals, including Strong Memorial. URMC Hospitals currently have 479 COVID patients according to officials, with 74 in the ICUs.
Dr. Robert Mayo of Rochester regional Health says both hospital systems are moving patients who are well but still testing positive for COVID to the Hill Haven Nursing Home as a transition facility. That’s intended to reduce pressure on the hospitals. 35 patients were taken there over the weekend.
RRH is shifting surgeries to ambulatory surgical centers, whose staffs are not being redeployed to the hospitals in its system.
Both systems say if you’re having a significant health issue and wondering if you should go to the emergeny room, you should go get treated.