By NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Chuck Welch with Hutchinson Regional Medical Center told the Board of County Commissioners Tuesday that they don't have staffing to take any more patients.
"We are currently on full diversion," Welch said.
Commissioner Daniel Friesen asked if someone was in a car wreck, what happens?
"We have to get you to the nearest accepting facility that has staff that can take care of you," Welch said.
That means that you would have to stay in the emergency room until they found you a bed.
"I will say this with the caveat that this changes," Welch said. "It can change every 15 minutes. It just depends on if we get discharges. Right now, I do know we have a patient waiting for a bed in the emergency department."
This is with only 64 patients total in a hospital licensed for 190 beds. They just don't have the staff. It isn't about COVID patients, per se, but those needs combined with the rest of the healthcare needs in the community.
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