By Dewey Terrill
JC Post
Geary Community Hospital is preparing to close the Intensive Care Unit, no later than Feb. 1.
LJ Baker, Director of HR & External Relations, said due to a national COVID-19 exacerbated nursing shortage, as well as fiscal situations beyond control of the Hospital, they can no longer effectively operate an Intensive Care Unit.
To ensure safe and quality care for patients currently in the ICU, it is the intent of GCH to conduct a deliberate and phased transition of closing the unit. In the interim they are coordinating with multiple hospitals in the state and region to identify beds and facilitate required treatment for patients.
Baker stated, "It is very important to note that GCH itself will remain open and continue to provide quality healthcare to our community. While some departments will be impacted, emergency care, critical support services and clinics will remain available for our patients."
Baker added during the transition of services GCH will make every effort to retain staff by reassigning employees to understaffed departments.
Geary Community Hospital has been dealing with financial challenges for some time.