Following the announcement from Governor Jim Justice on Wednesday directing the immediate assistance of the National Guard to relieve stressed hospital systems, Ridgeview News reached out to Minnie Hamilton Health System (MHHS), CEO Steve Whited, to find out the current status of their facility. With the rising numbers of COVID cases across the State, I asked if MHHS was facing a shortage of staff, and would they be requesting the National Guard assistance.
Mr. Whited stated that “All facilities have access to request National Guard assistance, and we are prepared to do such, if necessary, but currently we have not requested. This request would be handled at the local level, starting with Calhoun County OES director Julie Sears.”
We currently do not have a major staff shortage, however, do have a lot of staff off either due to testing positive or being quarantined for various reasons (i.e., members within their households positive). We are currently holding our own, managing this very well, however, as you know, this could change on a dime. We continue to closely monitor the situation, and we have strict guidelines in place surrounding testing, mask and PPE usage, etc. The current CDC guidelines allow us to let employees come to work even though positive, but must be asymptomatic (no symptoms), however, we have been fortunate and not have had to utilize this process yet.”
Minnie Hamilton Health System currently employs roughly 270 individuals across their system making them the largest employer in the County. When ask about the number of COVID-19 patients their facility could handle, Mr. Whited said, “We can handle several COVID patients, but this is also tricky in that in WV, we should be sending COVID positive patients who require hospitalization to specified COVID units, however these units have been at capacity, and we housed COVID positive patients. Sometimes until the beds in the specified COVID units open and we transfer, others we have housed and improved patients’ symptoms, allowing them to be discharged home. Over the course of the pandemic, we have performed nearly 18,000 tests internally, and estimated to have sent out another 8,000 to State and other labs. We do provide monoclonal antibody therapies, vaccines, testing, etc.”
On Thursday, the United States Supreme Court blocked President Biden’s vaccine and testing requirement aimed at large businesses, but it allowed a vaccine mandate for certain health care workers to go into effect nationwide. I asked Mr. Whited if the MHHS required employees to be vaccinated and if it had caused the loss of staff refusing to take the vaccine? He responded to that question with answer “The vaccine mandates have been tricky in that WV is one of the states that the injunctions have such on hold. Federal and State injunctions will hopefully we cleared up ASAP so healthcare facilities can move forward, and have a clearer understanding of what the laws will allow in the realm of mandates. So long story short, I really don’t know of the effects of employees leaving as they have not been fully implemented. Federal and State laws allow for employees to apply for exemptions to such vaccine mandates. I don’t know officially if any employees have left due to the mandates, however, I’m sure some may use that as their reasoning if asked.”
Minnie Hamilton Health System not only provides emergency care, hospitalization, clinic health care, but Long Term Care as well. Total beds for the facility are broken down as follows: 18 acute, 24 long term care, 5 ER. MHHS has overflow and mass casualty contingency plans, if necessary, as for example when the pandemic first started, they in conjunction with Calhoun County Schools, set up 50 beds in the High School gym. We kept this in place for several weeks/months until they were sure they were not needed. Agreements with other sites, if necessary, but have been made, but Mr. Whited stated that he is “thankful we have not had to utilize.”
A recent outbreak of COVID in the long term care unit had the families of many long term care residents as well as the staff concerned with the risk for death increasing with ages.
When asked about the recent outbreak and the condition of the residents, Mr. Whited said, “We are so thankful that the recent long term care outbreak was identified quickly, and we jumped into action. The residents, their families and especially staff were exceptional. Currently the long-term care unit is doing really well, we are actually in the middle of some renovations to the unit, which has made things even a little more complicated, but all is going well. Resident and their families are very special, and we are so thankful for their support and understanding. It’s truly amazing how everyone tackled this, provided relentless commitment to taking care of this outbreak and getting through it. It is truly an amazing testament that we actually went nearly two years (timeframe of the pandemic) before such a major outbreak, unlike most facilities around the State and nation. A true testament to all.”
There are strict visitor policies in place for the long-term care unit. Visitors are allowed, however there is a scheduling process, screening prior to entering unit.
Minnie Hamilton Health System has long provided health care for Calhoun County. When asked if there were any new projects and expansions for the facility it was noted that they have several facility projects under way and in the planning stages. Current projects that are under way include the long-term care renovations, a new medical office building in Glenville, a new medical office in Arnoldsburg at the old elementary school, some little projects at the main site includes door replacement. They are evaluating major renovations to the main facility and/or an entirely new facility in Grantsville and hope to be able to provide insight on this in the coming months.
Mr. Whited wished “to thank our community members for their support and understanding during this unpresented time. I’m always open for questions/comments from the public and will do my best to answer and help others understand. We live in a time that everyone has an opinion, whether informed or not, so I do encourage people to ask questions so we can all better understand. We have a great network of support through our affiliations with Mon Health, HealthNet, the local health departments, Calhoun and Gilmer EMSs, CAMC, WVU Medicine, Westbrook, Gilmer and Calhoun County School Systems, and the Mid Ohio Valley Rural Health Alliance.”
Love seeing Minnie Hamilton’s expansions and dedication to the community. I’m sure there is a lot to consider, but a new facility would be amazing to see come to Grantsville; look at Roane Generals expansion and how greatly that’s affected the community. A new facility would be just one more step in the right direction for Grantsville and Calhoun County!