News

COVID: Elbert Co EMS suspends some services, NE Ga health workers face termination

Elbert County EMS says it will no longer transport patients to hospitals outside Elberton, making exceptions only in life-threatening cases. Elbert County’s Emergency Services director says the decision comes as staffing shortages and high demand amid the ongoing surge in COVID cases.

Doctors at Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville say they are seeing some encouraging signs, pointing to a decline in the number of coronavirus-related hospitalizations and the possibility that the Omicron surge has peaked. Last week, the hospital in Hall County was treating 204 COVID patients. On Thursday, that number was down to 179.

More than 500 workers in the Gainesville-based Northeast Georgia Health System are facing termination for refusal to get their coronavirus vaccinations.

From WSB TV…

Georgia hospitals are facing a looming deadline to have employees vaccinated, and now some worry about new worker shortages.

Channel 2′s Tom Regan was in Hall County, where hospitals like Northeast Georgia Medical Center are concerned about losing even more nurses and hospital staff.

President Joe Biden’s vaccine mandate is still in effect for healthcare workers, who will have to have had at least one vaccine shot or an exemption by Feb. 14 or face termination.

Many hospitals are in critical condition when it comes to staff shortages, especially among nurses.

Matt Caseman, the CEO of the Georgia Nursing Association, said he thinks there will be some health care workers who lose their jobs.

“I don’t think it’s going to be sizeable, but there are going to be some,” Caseman said.

The head of the GNA, which represents nearly 4,000 nurses, can’t predict how many nurses will choose to quit or be fired because of the vaccine mandate.

But the prospect of losing even a small number of them isn’t good.

“We support the mandate obviously, because we want to keep patients and individuals and the public safe, but unfortunately, there may be some that leave because of this,” Caseman said.

One health care worker said he’s fully vaccinated, but he’s not fond of the mandate.

“I think it goes against our constitutional rights,” he said. “I think it should be left up to the individual as it relates to his or her own health.”

The Northeast Georgia Health System said about 80% of its workers are vaccinated. Another 15 have exemptions.

Officials said about 250 employees are holding out or working on getting an exemption.

Dr. John Delzell with the Northeast Georgia Health System said he hopes not to lose too many people.

“Hopefully, the vast majority of people will have a valid reason not to have, or have their vaccination, so their won’t be many people who have to be terminated,” Delzell said. “That’s our goal.”

Tim Bryant

Tim Bryant

Tim Bryant hosts Classic City Today, 6-10 weekday mornings on 98.7FM & AM 1340 WGAU in Athens.

Listen

news

amazon alexa

Enable our Skill today to listen live at home on your Alexa Devices!