Plymouth, N.C.-based Washington County Hospital's emergency room was out of commission for several hours April 4 when just one employee got sick, according to a local news report from WITN.
The staffer had a medical issue and needed extra rest, so the hospital put the ER on diversion until the employee was able to come in later that afternoon. While the emergency room was closed, patients were diverted to three hospitals: Williamston, N.C.-based Martin General, Edenton, N.C.-based Vidant Chowan and Washington, N.C.-based Vidant Beaufort, according to the report.
It's not unusual for the 25-bed critical access hospital to need to divert patients, CEO Terry Amstutz told WITN. When on diversion, Washington County Hospital is in close contact with the county's emergency medical service, according to the report.
However, Washington County manager Curtis Potter told WITN this was the largest shut down ever for the hospital's ER.
Read the full report here.
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