Hospital running 'close to capacity'

Blanchard Valley Hospital's census is running "close to capacity," Dr. William Kose, vice president of special projects for Blanchard Valley Health System, said Wednesday. The hospital has 150 beds, and Kose said about 30 patients are hospitalized with COVID-19. And the emergency room — which typically treats 100 to 110 patients in a day — has seen 125, 140 and 148 individuals over the last few days, he said. Edward Goodwin, 83, of Findlay, was a patient in the emergency room last week. Goodwin said his treatment was "expedited" because of a fear he might have been having a stroke (this turned out not to be the case). Goodwin said when he was in the emergency department, the rooms were full and some additional patients were waiting in the halls. (Kose confirmed ER staff did set up extra beds in the hallway.) Goodwin stressed that the staff took "great care of me," but it was clear that the ER was a busy place. "A lot of people are doing their very, very best to do a very hard job," he observed. Kose said that, in addition to COVID-19 patients, the hospital is continuing to see a lot of patients sick with other ailments. And, he said, some people who had COVID-19 earlier in the pandemic and now have "long COVID" are coming in with lingering health problems related to the condition. Kose advised that anyone who thinks they're sick should, if possible, first check with their primary care provider, as opposed to immediately going to the ER. "The fewer people that you see, the better," he said. He said Blanchard Valley Hospital is offering testing at its drive-thru center from noon to 5 p.m. weekdays. Tests must be ordered through a primary care doctor. Kose said staffing is also an issue at the hospital. "I think everyone is getting tired," he said. He said many people are working overtime, but the facility is in need of people in many fields including nursing, cleaning staff and cafeteria, among others. Arthurs: 419-427-8494