Gridlock continues to clog regional hospital

With the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre still in a state of gridlock and flu season approaching, hospital officials are worriedly looking for a solution to the overflow problem.

The hospital has been in a Code Gridlock situation since Sept. 8, seeing upwards of 425 patients in the 375-bed facility forcing the hospital to put beds in hallways and alcoves throughout the building. Director of quality risk and management Cathy Covino said when flu season arrives, the problem could get worse.

"We just had a discussion this morning – we are already over capacity, what are we going to do in flu season," she said. "Typically influenza-type illness does affect the elderly and we do tend to get more admissions and admissions that need to be isolated."

With only a certain number of private rooms, there will be that juggle of moving patients in and out, said Covino, adding they hope to keep the movement to a minimum but with flu season, it can’t be helped sometimes.

"We hope to have more of a strategy in the next month so in short, to be able to move patients home earlier and have them make long-term decisions from home," she said. "We’re hoping (Code Gridlock and flu season) will balance out and things will look a little bit brighter. It’s a bit of a concern for us for sure."

Covino said the region’s hospital is funded for 375 beds and is managed best at an 85 per cent occupancy rate, so the gridlock is taking its toll on the staff.

She said they call in extra staff where they can but they don’t have the resources to constantly do that.

"It’s difficult for all staff," she said. "Pharmacy needs to find patients in different areas of the hospital. Housekeeping needs to be turning over beds constantly and cleaning extra areas such as the overflow alcoves…Dietary has to make more trays. You can imagine 50 more patients every day that you’re supplying medication to and meal trays to. It’s a lot of work and they have been doing a fabulous job."