While the number of hospitalizations from COVID has dropped to just a few a week, the large number of cases is still causing problems at Salem Township Hospital.
Hospital President Alex Nazarian says as of last week the hospital just had two COVID-positive patients. But Marion County’s high number of positives is still hitting the hospital hard.
“It is not as severe, but there is a lot. We are facing staffing challenges because it’s ten days if someone is COVID positive. If it is suspected exposure, it’s four or five days, etc. depending on if they are vaccinated or not. So it is very destructive to our organization.”
Nazarian says the hospital is still doing a considerable amount of COVID testing. The latest weekly COVID numbers released Friday for Marion County showed 142 new cases within the past week and five new hospitalizations, putting the county at the medium level for community spread.
Nazarian also announced at the meeting the hospital had another good month operationally, with net revenue of nearly $2.6-million. The hospital wrote off $15,009 in charity care, with another $146,000 set aside for future charity care.
Nazarian also told the board Pulmonologist Dr. Naga Sirikonda would hold a clinic at the hospital once a month. He reports the first visit was very successful. Dr. Sirikonda is based at St. Mary’s Hospital in Centralia.
