BUFFALO (WBEN) - On Monday morning, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that the New York State Department of Health is ordering hospitals to increase their capacity by 25%.
It's a situation similar in nature to what hospital operators like Kaleida Health faced in the spring when the coronavirus pandemic was unfolding.
"Similar to what we were facing in the spring, our plan to help fight the ongoing COVID crisis right now relies on four issues: personnel, equipment & supplies, testing capacity and space planning," began Don Boyd, chief operating officer for Kaleida Health.
For Kaleida Health, increasing bed capacity by 25% could include any or all of the following:
· Re-opening beds at DeGraff Medical Park (formerly DeGraff Memorial Hospital).
· Additional intensive care beds at all sites (Bradford Regional Medical Center, Buffalo General Medical Center, DeGraff Medical Park, Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital, Oishei Children's Hospital and Olean General Hospital).
· Doubling up private rooms and conversion of old hospital rooms/space.
· Utilization of ambulatory surgery space and ambulatory surgery centers.
· Redeployment of required medical equipment (ventilators, patient beds, etc.).
Boyd said increasing bed capacity will only increase the need for additional personnel.
"We are and will continue to be creative in all areas so we can maximize ancillary staff, nursing and physicians," he said.
