Western Kentucky hospitals and medical centers are treating lots of patients within the wake of deadly storms and tornadoes.
Brooke Richardson, marketing and communications coordinator for Jackson Purchase Medical Center in Mayfield, Ky., said their facility didn't suffer any damage and they're \”fully prepared to meet the medical needs in our communities at this time.\”
\”We are heartbroken to understand the extent of the damage brought on by last night’s storms. – We have seen an influx of patients to the emergency department and also have called in additional staff to accommodate the elevated volume,\” Richardson said inside a written statement. \”Our system is with our friends, family, neighbors and our employees throughout Mayfield and the surrounding region.\”
Med Center Health in Bowling Green also escaped harm to its building, but lost power for many hours, based on Vice President of Ancillary Services Dennis Chaney.
\”Our emergency generators supplied power for all of us for a while, and then we did regain power earlier this morning,\” he told WFPL News Saturday.
The Bowling Green hospital also had an \”influx of patients\” into its emergency department.
Chaney said extra staffing was contacted and, despite a nationwide nursing shortage that's impacted a healthcare facility, they've been \”managing adequately.\”
He said they're seeing weather-related injuries for example lacerations and broken bones. Medical staff is also trying to react to the mental health needs of patients coming in.
\”Our social services team responded extremely early today, these making their method to our campus in order to provide support for patients and families of those needing services offered at our campus,\” Chaney said. \”And we’ve been coordinating spiritual needs as it relates to those types of requests.\”
Some medical facilities in Louisville have been receiving standby, ready to send support for their colleagues in the affected regions.
A spokesperson for Norton Healthcare said president and CEO Russell F. Cox spoken with Gov. Andy Beshear, offering to provide support.
In a message sent to Norton employees, Cox wrote that he anticipates the system's workers is going to be \”eager to help.\”
\”We are committed to helping by any means we are able to,\” Cox's message said. \”Please be assured that we will do whatever is determined to be probably the most useful to those affected by the storm, whether that is by providing volunteers, supplies, or resources. – We know you join us in sending thoughts and prayers to those whose lives happen to be dramatically impacted by this disaster.\”
Chaney of Med Center Health in Bowling Green said they're working with community partners to assess what residents need as officials continue to assess the extent from the damage.
\”I know that there’s likely to be housing needs, and then folks who have forfeit everything, you know, their clothing and personal items, all of that,\” he explained.
But something that his hospital, and likely many more, definitely need is blood, he continued.
The country is in the midst of the national blood shortage, based on the American Red Cross.
\”We need blood products,\” Chaney said. \”And so this devastation of the weather has exacerbated our need.\”
