The Coastal Courier recently reached out to Liberty Medical Regional Center, who confirmed they have been overwhelmed with the recent spike in Covid cases.
Rene Harwell who is the hospital’s Director of Community Outreach offered this response.
“Thank you for contacting me on behalf of Liberty Regional Medical Center. Our CEO, Tammy Mims, states that our Medical Surgical floor (in-patient floor) is full and we have 32 patients in the ER with 16 of the patients holding in the ER for admission. (Keep in mind we are a 25 bed Critical Access Hospital.) Fortunately, now we believe we have every patient on a stretcher; however, we did have the need to use cots earlier in the week when we ran out of hospital beds and stretchers due to the volume of patients.”
Harwell said the spike in COVID cases including the Delta variant, and other ailments patients are experiencing and seeking treatment for has overwhelmed the staff.
“Our emergency room has been full since this latest spike in COVID-19,” Harwell said. “In addition to COVID patients we, of course, continue to have emergencies with patients coming in who have non-COVID related illnesses as well.”
Just recently LRMC Director of Nursing Donna Cochrane was interviewed live on CNN saying the recent spike has overwhelmed their staff and resource.
Harwell wanted the public to be aware there are other alternatives for treatment for less serious cases such Liberty Regional Medical Center’s Walk-In Clinic located at the hospital, open Monday-Friday, 10am-6pm, for non-emergent cases.
Harwell said no appointments are necessary except for COVID vaccines. Call 912-369-9310 to schedule an appointment for a vaccine. Patients may also seek care with their primary care physicians.
According to Harwell, Liberty Regional Medical Center also offers Monoclonal Antibody Infusion for COVID patients and it is administered by appointment as well. Harwell said, “The patient's physician should write an order and contact the LRMC Pharmacy for the necessary form so an appointment can be scheduled right away.”