Statehouse News Bureau

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Some Ohio Hospitals Are At Or Nearing Capacity Right Now

By Jo Ingles

Published September 13, 2021 at 7:43 PM EDT

John Palmer, Ohio Hospital Association [Jo Ingles / Statehouse News Bureau] — John Palmer, Ohio Hospital Association

Some Ohio hospitals are reeling from the recent uptick in COVID-19 cases on top of already existing staffing shortages.

Two Southern Ohio hospitals have already hit their ICU capacity, according to the Ohio Hospital Association’s John Palmer, and he fears others could do the same soon. The problem, he says, is hospitals just don’t have enough staff.

“We have plans in place to help alleviate and what we call patient diversion strategies, but frankly, if all of the other states around us are overwhelmed, and we are seeing other increases, it’s going to get very dire," Palmer said.

Southern Ohio Medical Center in Portsmouth shared this on Facebook this past weekend [Southern Ohio Medical Center / Facebook]

Palmer says staff vaccination mandates are exacerbating the problem, but he says it’s important to make sure medical workers are vaccinated. He says health care workers who opt out won’t necessarily be terminated but might have to test for the coronavirus more frequently or wear more protective equipment.