Hospitals working together to fight bed shortage

OCH says it has worked with other area hospitals to fight the coronavirus

Our emily leonard has the evening off.

Thanks for joining us for w-t-v-a nine news at six on this wednesday.

Local hospitals are working together to fight the rise in coronavirus cases.

Wtva's wayne hereford talked to one local doctor and adminstrator who say there have been some bed shoratages for coronavirus patients.

The oktibbeha county hospital regional medical center is an independent care facility.

But we learned this afternoon the hospital here is working with others in the area to insure coronavirus patients have beds for treatment.

"we did take a transfer from tupelo hospital last night .

So we all share.

If one of us is full we give to the other and vice versa."

Doctor cameron smith huxford says the oktibbeha county hospital and others have joined forces during the pandemic to help with healing.

"and so tupelo and columbus and starkville, we're all sharing."

"if the icu is full or the covid floor is full at one hospital then you call the local hospitals to see if one of them can take it.

So a patient from the e.r.

In tupelo last night there was no room so she came here today."

Tom sheward is the laboratory director at och.

"we're all working together.

We're sharing collection kits .

We're sharing information ,we're sharing information with reference labs .

We're doing whatever it takes to make sure the patients in our area are taken care of."

Sheward says och is also working with hospitals in macon, at mississippi state , with baptist clay county, eupora, ackerman, and winona.

He says the pandemic has made life stressful for everone but they are doing all they can to get through mit.

Reporting live in starkville wayne hereford wtva nine news.

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