SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News)-Upstate University Hospital is feeling the pressure from overcrowded emergency rooms and widespread staffing shortages. Now, they are looking for alternative ways to cut wait times down.
Currently, average wait times are upwards of five hours, which is the highest of any Syracuse hospital. In response, ambulances are being diverted outside of the area.
Upstate says they are considering installing outdoor tents for patients transferred by ambulance. The tents are intended for non-emergency patients only.
Over the summer, Syracuse hospitals recorded a high for the number of ambulances they redirected. And it doesn’t appear to be improving.
Since, Syracuse hospitals have seen additional staffing shortages due to the vaccine mandate. Upstate put 113 employees on leave, who did not receive a COVID-19 vaccine dose by the state’s deadline for healthcare workers.
This is another sign of hospitals being overwhelmed by the surplus of patients throughout the pandemic.
There is no official plan for the tents to go up.
