MMC hit with influx of respiratory cases

Jan. 6—A surge in various respiratory illnesses is pushing Meadville Medical Center (MMC) to hospitalization capacity and impacting the processing of patients.

"It's a combination of RSV, COVID and the flu," Dr. Kevin Kraeling, medical director of Meadville Medical Center, said Friday afternoon.

"We've got 17 COVID patients (admitted) plus the other two respiratory illnesses," Kraeling said. "That's an influx on top of hospitalizations for stroke, heart attack and other (issues)."

To help free up beds for admissions, Meadville is using six beds in its post-operation recovery area for admissions. MMC is also using some beds in its obstetrics unit for medically stable patients.

The hospital has 12 patients that could be discharged to area nursing homes to help create more space, but area nursing homes don't have bed space due to staffing shortages, Kraeling said.

MMC has a 232-bed system that includes two hospital facilities in Meadville and a 25-bed hospital in Titusville, at Titusville Area Hospital.

"Titusville is seeing an influx, too, as well as UPMC and St. Vincent in Erie," Kraeling said.

"We're hoping people make appropriate use of the emergency department," he added.

Kraeling noted that for life-threatening symptoms, people should use a hospital's emergency room.

"We don't want people delaying or not seeing a doctor for serious matters," he said.

However, there are urgent care centers that remain open and are available including MMC's Vernon ExpressCare at 16332 Conneaut Lake Road, Meadville, (814)-337-3300, as well as MedExpress Urgent Care, 18471 Smock Highway, Meadville, (814) 333-3627, for less severe medical needs.

"It's hard to speculate," Kraeling replied when asked if the surge of respiratory-related illnesses was related to people gathering together for the Christmas-New Year's holiday season. "We're hoping things settle down in the next week or two."

Keith Gushard can be reached at (814) 724-6370 or by email at kgushard@meadvilletribune.com.