Hospital crisis in Chattanooga area

[gunnurse]

There is a hospital crisis in progress in the Chattanooga area this weekend. My mother-in-law had to be transported for acute mental status changes to an ER near her. She spent the night in the ER, and was placed in a hallway pending admission. She is still there at this time.

Apparently, the largest hospital in this region (Erlanger) is full in all of their inpatient facilities. Their East Campus has converted their lobby/waiting room into a patient holding area. All visitors are gathered in an outside patio area. They are walking around cursing on the phones about the situation. Parkridge and Memorial hospitals are full, too. They are all ”holding“ patients in hallways pending admission.

I spoke with one of the hospital’s administrative staff members, and was advised that this was not due to COVID, or any one specific issue. This is a particularly perilous time to be sick or injured in Chattanooga. Have any other members experienced a like crisis around you recently?

 

[Toliver]

Yep. A coworker was hit by a car and hurt bad enough to need surgery. Was 24 hours before a room was available for recovery.

 

[Ruger#3]

There is a hospital crisis in progress in the Chattanooga area this weekend. My mother-in-law had to be transported for acute mental status changes to an ER near her. She spent the night in the ER, and was placed in a hallway pending admission. She is still there at this time.

Apparently, the largest hospital in this region (Erlanger) is full in all of their inpatient facilities. Their East Campus has converted their lobby/waiting room into a patient holding area. All visitors are gathered in an outside patio area. They are walking around cursing on the phones about the situation. Parkridge and Memorial hospitals are full, too. They are all ”holding“ patients in hallways pending admission.

I spoke with one of the hospital’s administrative staff members, and was advised that this was not due to COVID, or any one specific issue. This is a particularly perilous time to be sick or injured in Chattanooga. Have any other members experienced a like crisis around you recently?

The wife’s hospital has had multiple beds open in the PACU a couple nights this week.

My bet is it’s staff not facilities, staffing is getting much tougher here.

 

[treemanjohn]

Hospitals turned their backs on a lot if hardworking employees over the vaccine nonsense. Those employees found places where they were properly appreciated

 

[HarryO45]

I have a friend who lives in Maine. He was coming down this weekend for some local fly fishing, but called me today to tell me his girlfriend had to go to the ER yesterday. He said the hospital was full - beds in the hallways and people everywhere. He had never seen anything like it in the states. He said her condition was very serious but they stabilized her and then sent her home. She is supposed to go back tomorrow. Hope she get the care she needs. She was coming too, and now it looks like the trip won’t happen.

I don’t know what is going on in Chattanooga but it doesn’t sound like it is isolated to TN

 

[livinoutdoors]

Nurses are quittin and have been for some time. The whole world is short staffed it seems.

 

[ucfireman]

Its all hospitals.
Piedmont Eastside in Snellville has them in the hall regularly.
Northside Gwinnett and Duluth are always full but manage to find beds mostly.
All the southside and Atlanta hospitals have them lining the walls.
Walton is always full and so is Henry and Fayette.

 

[Ruger#3]

Nurses are quittin and have been for some time. The whole world is short staffed it seems.

Even before COVID numbers weren’t good.

 

[livinoutdoors]

Even before COVID numbers weren’t good.

Yup the covid thing just helped it on its way.

 

[oldfella1962]

If this is widespread, why am I just now hearing about this? I watch the news a lot but I've never heard a thing about a staffing shortage since covid.

 

[livinoutdoors]

If this is widespread, why am I just now hearing about this? I watch the news a lot but I've never heard a thing about a staffing shortage since covid.

If you was a nurse or married to one you would have heard about it. Been goin on for awhile.

 

[Ruger#3]

Some of them made good bucks traveling during COVID. Their starting other careers now.

 

[oldfella1962]

If you was a nurse or married to one you would have heard about it. Been goin on for awhile.

But if something like this has the potential to affect everybody, at any time, I would think that's as newsworthy as whatever else is in the news.

 

[Ruger#3]

https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/pr...projected-intensify-next-year-and-half-report

 

[oldfella1962]

https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/pr...projected-intensify-next-year-and-half-report

Scary! I really better "double down" on doing everything I can to stay healthy & out of the hospital!

 

[Toliver]

But if something like this has the potential to affect everybody, at any time, I would think that's as newsworthy as whatever else is in the news.

It doesn't fit their agenda apparently. When I got bad sick with Covid in 21 there was no room at the Inn so they sent me home with O2 right at 90. They said monitor it and come back if it falls below 90. It dropped to 88 for a few days but I didn't bother to go back since there wouldn't be a room for me.

 

[Ruger#3]

Main stream media tells you what they think you should know. Often has little to do with reality.

My wife is a supervisor, not supposed to have patients to facilitate assisting other nurses. She often does her job and covers three patients.

 

[jiminbogart]

Yet another step down the path of making the USA a third world manure hole.

Thank a liberal. They must be ecstatic to see the USA failing.

 

[The Original Rooster]

Yet another step down the path of making the USA a third world manure hole.

Thank a liberal. They must be ecstatic to see the USA failing.

Jim, I'm starting to think that we're going to have to go through some sure enough hard times as a country for people to remember what it's like to actually want to work again and not be able to. Folks wanting to work won't be a problem then, they'll be begging to work! Guess we have to go through hard times to appreciate the good times.

 

[mark-7mag]

Scary! I really better "double down" on doing everything I can to stay healthy & out of the hospital!

I was thinking the same thing.

 

[dslc6487]

Hard times are a coming.......already here somewhat. But going to get worse. Staff shortages everywhere, not only in nursing. You cannot go one mile on any public road without seeing "we are hiring" signs. Too much "free" money has been given out by our present administration, so people are not wanting to work, they are willing to get by on what the gov. gives them..........

 

[OwlRNothing]

I agree with alot of what's been said - but I also have to wonder if some of the problem is these hospital cabals putting so much money into fancy and high-tech things, and not enough into expanding their actual hospitals where patient rooms are concerned. Our local industrial-hospital-complex spends millions and millions on fancy new buildings and tech, but hasn't expanded the actual hospital capacity in what - 30 or 40 years maybe?