Wednesday, January 05, 2000
4 hospitals overwhelmed, divert patients away
BY TIM BONFIELD
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Four Tristate hospitals diverted life squads from their emergency departments for several hours Tuesday as hospitals all over town reported a rush of patients.
The hospitals were University, Good Samaritan, Bethesda North and Mercy Franciscan Hospital-Western Hills campus.
No one health problem ap peared to be causing the rush. Some people had influenza and flu-related pneumonia. Others had traumatic injuries, heart problems, asthma attacks or various seasonal infections other than the flu.
Good Samaritan Hospital started diverting all but the most immediate life-threatening cases at 6:30 p.m. Monday and continued asking life squads to avoid the hospital until 3 p.m. Tuesday. About 4 p.m. Tuesday, Bethesda North started diverting life squads and planned to continue as long as necessary.
“Our patient load (at Good Sam and Bethesda North) is through the roof. And with the nursing shortage, our ability to flex up is limited,” said Jeff Blunt, spokesman for Tri-
Health, which runs both hospitals. “But it's not like last year, when we were seeing nothing but flu cases.”
University Hospital diverted life squads from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday because there were not enough medical-surgical beds to accommodate all the patients in the emergency department who needed admission. During that time, however, the hospital remained open to serious trauma, burn and organ-transplant cases, said spokeswoman Amy Bomar.
Mercy Franciscan-Western Hills diverted patients from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday, said spokeswoman Leisa Golden.
Influenza season has picked up steam in Ohio and nationwide but is weeks from its Tristate peak, health officials say.
As of Monday, Ohio health officials were reporting “regional” flu activity. That's up from “sporadic” levels reported in early December, but still less than the “widespread” activity at the peak of flu season.
“We expect to move to widespread activity sometime soon — probably later this month. The typical pattern for Ohio is to see peak numbers in January and February and sometimes into March,” said Randy Hertzer, a spokesman for the Ohio Department of Health.
City workers renew bias claims
4 hospitals overwhelmed, divert patients away
Tornado damage heavy, not deadly
Area recovering from storm drenching
Flynts give up on downtown shop
Police widow waits for death-benefits appeal
Rhodes, Luebbers won't run for commissioner
Settlement reported near in jail death
2 students arrested in bomb report
Killer's sister gets probation for help
Ohio Girls Scouts offer new cookie
Patton address highlights workers
Dems add asterisk to GOP-led Senate
N.Ky. gets prime Senate seat
Queen City's moments to shine reflected in book
Cleveland polishes musical gem
Six weeks of programs marks hall reopening
Theaters only one act in Cleveland rebirth
10 health tips for 2000
Work to make sex fun, doctor tells women
GET TO IT
Santana works his magic with 10 Grammy nominations
Three Cincinnatians honored as arts patrons
Who wants to watch a game show?
25-year-old charged with murder
Bus ad suit renewed
Edgewood schools tap Slone as new treasurer of district
Erlanger police get new office
Fire heavily damages Indian Hill house
Firefighter kicked out of training program
Funeral today for 4 family members
Indiana budgets $1.4M to curb problem gambling
Law: Review of police limited
License penalty reviewed
Mayor bows out as candidate for recreation job
Middletown commissioners select Sennet as chairman
New Y offers options for all
Rec center is a local asset
Schools find little savings after audit
TRISTATE DIGEST
