The Kemptville District Hospital (KDH) says staff have been able to keep care moving close to home despite operating over capacity for much of the summer. The hospital says it operated above 100 per cent capacity for more than two months during that time, reaching 139 per cent for several weeks as demand increased. Connie Parsons, an auxiliary volunteer support lead who has also been a patient at the hospital, says despite the demand, much of that pressure went unnoticed. “In the recent weeks where we were over capacity, quite frankly, we didn’t even know what was happening,” she said. Hospital officials say it was largely because staff stepped in, picking up shifts on days off and rearranging schedules to care for patients. “We’re caring for more patients than our usual capacity, which truthfully has resulted in heavier workloads,” said Dr. Mannpreet Phambri-Komal, chief of family medicine. “It’s meant significantly longer days for everybody.” The hospital’s emergency department already sees roughly 1,600 patients each month and serves North Grenville and surrounding communities, with some patients also coming from Merrickville and parts of Ottawa. Amy Scott, team leader in the emergency department and medical surgical flood, said departments across the hospital worked together during the surge. “The entire hospital, they all came together to make this work, and they provided exceptional care to the patients to the point that no patient could even tell we were in surge because the quality of care remained the same,” Scott said. Earlier this year, KDH closed 12 long-term care beds to make additional room for acute-care patients as demand increased. “By us being able to pivot and bring in enough staff, including physicians and nursing care, patients don’t have to go to another hospital, they don’t have to be transferred, we don’t have to shut down our emerg,” said Katie Hogue, vice-president of clinical services and chief nursing executive. “That is imperative because that really is the heart of the community, being able to have access locally.” With cold and flu season approaching, the hospital is preparing for the possibility of another surge. While staff have been able to absorb the pressure, the hospital says that alone isn’t a sustainable long-term solution. “Permanent and sustainable funding is something we continue to advocate for so we can continue to grow these services as our community grows,” said Hogue. As of Tuesday, the hospital was operating at about 100 per cent capacity, with two additional patients expected. For Parsons, the capacity numbers tell only part of the story. “I have always received the most wonderful care,” she said. “You’re treated so well. It’s as though you are really a person here.”
