COVID-19: Genesis doing patient triage to non-ER services amid omicron surge
ZANESVILLE — Genesis Hospital is asking people to consider other routes for emergent care as omicron surges in Muskingum County.
Last week, omicron was 10% of local COVID-19 cases. This week it makes up 55% of diagnoses, Genesis CEO Matt Perry said.
Genesis, the largest hospital in the seven-county region, has a high patient volume in its emergency department, he said, and there isn't enough staff to keep up. The ED will adjust its existing triage procedures to keep up with the influx of COVID-19 patients.
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Patients with less severe conditions may be helped with arrangements to go to a local urgent care or other clinics outside of the emergency department.
"It's the coughs, the colds, the bumps, the rashes, the sores that normally would seek care in the emergency department will probably not be able to find urgent care in that fashion moving forward, at least in the immediate future," said Dr. Robert Beight, medical director of the emergency department and EMS.
Normally you would either be assessed in the emergency department or in the lobby. Now, providers may greet patients in front of the ED to determine how to move forward with care.
They will try to find another avenue of care for the patient if they determine emergent care isn't needed. That could be an area urgent care clinic, family practice or other type of clinic.
"We will find you care, it just won't be in the normal mechanism or location that you're used to through the emergency department," Beight said.
As of Wednesday, the health department is reporting 624 active COVID-19 cases in Muskingum County and 32 hospitalizations.
Perry is encouraging people to get their shots if they haven't already. He said the vast majority of people suffering in the hospital are not vaccinated.
"We just see it over, and over, and over again," he said.
Genesis encourages those seeking care to view a flier on its website listing care options in the area for needs that are not life-threatening.
Some of those options include Genesis FirstCare urgent care clinic, its Orthopedic Walk-in Clinic, GMG Primary Care Connection and Muskingum Valley Health Centers locations. MVHC also has an urgent care clinic, which is located on Putnam Avenue.
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This article originally appeared on Zanesville Times Recorder: Genesis encouraging other medical routes before ER amid COVID-19 surge
