By BRENT MARTIN
St. Joseph Post
Mosaic Life Care is working through extremely high patient numbers as the Omicron variant raises COVID-19 numbers throughout the region.
Mosaic CEO, Dr. Mark Laney, says the health care system has reactivated its Incident Command System to cope with the spike in patient numbers.
“This is an internal tool that we use when we have a highly specified or intense circumstance,” Laney tells reporters during a recent news briefing. “More than a year ago, that Incident Command System when we were first learning to deal with COVID was actually up for several months.”
Laney says the center helps Mosaic handle the large amount of data flowing its way, evaluate it, and create an action plan.
Mosaic reports 54 total patients in its system as of Tuesday morning; 50 in St. Joseph and four in Maryville.
Laney, says more patients, plus those seeking COVID tests, have created long wait times in the Mosaic emergency room.
“Don’t be surprised if you come to the emergency room that you’re going to wait a longer period of time, because of the number of COVID patients that we’re dealing with,” Laney cautions. “We have a very high inpatient census.”
Laney is quick to add that that doesn’t mean those who need emergency treatment should avoid the ER.
“However, I would also say, if you’re having chest pain, if you’re having stroke-like symptoms, you need to still come to the hospital,” Laney says. “We will and can take care of you. That is not something that should not be delayed.”
Laney says Mosaic is working to relieve the backlog on the ER by using other means to treat patients. Laney says, overall, the Mosaic St. Joseph hospital has 50-60 more patients than normal.
Laney says Mosaic has contingencies in place to handle the influx of patients, both COVID and otherwise.
“We have a Plan A, a Plan B, and a Plan C, rest assured, so that we are able to continue to care for everybody that needs our care in our region,” according to Laney. “That is our goal. That is why we’re here and we want to be here for you, but we also need everyone to understand we are super, super busy.”