Olean General Hospital & Bradford Regional Medical Center homepage link Home News OGH works to manage high patient volumes News RELEASED: THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2021 6:00 AM OGH works to manage high patient volumes With rising COVID cases in the community, high patient volumes and healthcare staff challenges, Olean General Hospital is determined to provide the best care for its patients. Healthcare systems in the region are struggling and Olean General is no exception. “We know patients need and depend on us for care and we are striving to get through this critical time,” said Jill Owens, MD, interim chief medical officer, Upper Allegheny Health System. “The vaccination rates in our rural counties are low and the unvaccinated are likely to get sicker and end up requiring hospitalization and intensive care more often and this adds to the pressure on the local rural hospitals. The community can help by stepping up and getting vaccinated,” she said. Dr. Owens explained that high patient volumes have forced the hospital’s ER to go on delay (where wait times increase) or even diversion (when ambulances are redirected to other facilities) at peak times. “We know this is not an ideal situation but these aren’t normal times,” she said. “Regardless of our volumes, OGH’s ER is open 24/7 for our community.” There are several ways the hospital is working to provide the best, most efficient care for patients. Recently, OGH placed a temporary satellite ER trailer outside the ER to help reduce congestion inside the hospital. It’s used to treat and discharge less emergent, non-COVID patients. “Having additional space to see patients has helped less critical patients move through the ER in a more timely fashion while keeping the hospital open for more serious cases,” Dr. Owens said. In addition, the hospital offers its ER at Home program where non-critical patients have a virtual health visit via phone, tablet or computer with an ER clinician from the convenience of their home. Patients can schedule a visit on the hospital’s website, brmc-ogh.org. Working through challenges is a community effort as well. The hospital meets daily with staff from the county’s health department, Olean Medical Group, Universal Primary Care, and regional EMS to discuss current COVID numbers, testing and vaccination capabilities, hospital capacity and ways to keep the public informed. CONTACT INFORMATION Olean General Hospital 515 Main St Olean, NY 14760 (716) 373-2600 Driving Directions Bradford Regional Medical Center 116 Interstate Parkway Bradford, PA 16701 (814) 368-4143 Driving Directions ©2021 Kaleida Health. All Rights Reserved. Disclaimer | Privacy & HIPAA | LGBTQ Healthcare Equality | Ethics & Compliance Olean General Hospital A Kaleida Health Facility 515 Main Street, Olean, NY 14760 (716) 373-2600 Follus us on Facebook Follus us on Twitter Follus us on LinkedIn Follus us on YouTube Bradford Regional Medical Center A Kaleida Health Facility 116 Interstate Parkway, Bradford, PA 16701 (814) 368-4143 Follus Bradford Regional Medical Center on Facebook Follus us on Twitter Follus Bradford Regional Medical Center on LinkedIn Follus Bradford Regional Medical Center on YouTube