High volume forces Athens hospitals to divert patients Wednesday

Athens’ two hospitals diverted patients to other hospitals because of high volumes Wednesday, but hospital spokespersons said Thursday that operations have returned to normal.

“Yesterday, St. Mary’s experienced higher than anticipated volumes and briefly was on diversion,” confirmed St. Mary’s Healthcare Public Relations Manager Mark Ralston. “By working with our sister facilities and our medical staff, we were able to facilitate safe and appropriate discharges and return quickly to normal operations. Throughout the diversion period, we continued to accept patients into our Emergency Department and triaged them appropriately.”

Ralston said Wednesday’s diversion was not due solely to rising COVID-19 hospitalizations, but “due to high volumes from a number of causes.”

“Currently, we are not on diversion and are fully open to anyone who needs care,” Ralston said in an email Thursday afternoon.

Read more: https://www.onlineathens.com/news/20200716/high-volume-forces-athens-hospitals-to-divert-patients-wednesday