A positive legacy of the COVID-19 pandemic will be increased access to critical care north of Atlanta, according to plans announced by Northeast Georgia Health System (NGHS).
“While the pandemic is far from over, we know we will increase the number of critical care beds across our hospital system,” says Larry Dudas, MD, Northeast Georgia Medical Center’s medical director of Critical Care. “That’s what our community needs long term, regardless of COVID, as the population continues to grow. We need to grow to anticipate and meet the future need.”
Before the pandemic, Northeast Georgia Medical Center (NGMC) operated 67 critical care beds in Gainesville and 18 in Braselton. Those numbers climbed to 150 in Gainesville and 44 in Braselton at the peak of the pandemic back in January – as NGMC converted existing space to provide critical care, opened new critical care units and added critical care physicians and staff.
“Our team has been amazingly flexible, and we’ve received tremendous support from the state that allows us to meet the needs as they continue to ebb and flow,” says Elizabeth Larkins, a registered nurse and NGMC’s executive director of Medical Nursing. “We’re still adjusting the number of critical care beds each day based on demand and the resources we have available. It’s stressful on everyone involved, especially given the national nursing shortage, but we have to find ways to continually adapt to meet the challenge our community faces.”
When the pandemic eventually reaches its end, NGMC anticipates operating at least 81 critical care beds in Gainesville and 24 in Braselton on a regular basis – an overall increase of 20 from pre-pandemic levels.
More visible changes are also coming to NGMC Gainesville, as the mobile medical unit outside the North Patient Tower will be taken down later this month. The state loaned the unit to NGMC last fall to help the hospital manage increased care demands due to COVID-19.
“We’re very thankful for the help the state provided during a critical period of this pandemic,” says John Delzell, MD, MSPH, NGMC’s COVID-19 Incident Commander. “The state requested we return the unit, and timing was right as our number of COVID patients is declining and site prep to build a future patient tower nearby are beginning. We are making other plans to flex our capacity, though, just in case the numbers creep back up.”
Workers are currently renovating space inside the existing North Patient Tower to create a new medical observation unit to handle increased capacity as needed. The 14,000 square-foot space on the ground floor will include 24 observation rooms and support space for staff. The unit is expected to open by the end of the year. Plans for a future tower, currently expected to open in late 2024, include features that will also aid critical care – like rooms designed to easily convert to negative pressure space and be more adaptable based on the level of care a patient needs.
“I’m so proud each member of our team continues to bring their best every day, always finding new ways to adapt and improve the health of our community in all we do,” says Carol Burrell, NGHS president & CEO. “We continue to encourage people to get vaccinated against COVID-19, so, if they are infected, they are much more likely to avoid hospital care or death. Don’t hold off on getting non-COVID care when you need it, too, because our frontline healthcare workers are here for you 24/7.”
Learn more about all the ways you can access care, find a doctor and get more information about COVID vaccines at nghs.com.
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ABOUT NORTHEAST GEORGIA HEALTH SYSTEM
Northeast Georgia Health System (NGHS) is a non-profit on a mission of improving the health of our community in all we do. Our team cares for more than 1 million people across the region through four hospitals and a variety of outpatient locations. Northeast Georgia Medical Center (NGMC) has campuses in Gainesville, Braselton, Winder and Dahlonega – with a total of more than 700 beds and more than 1,100 medical staff members representing more than 60 specialties. Learn more at www.nghs.com.