CHARLOTTE — Atrium Health tweeted that it is rescheduling some primary care wellness appointments to February and March, due to COVID-19 to ensure those who need immediate care can be seen as soon as possible.
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An Atrium Health nurse, who did not want to be identified, told Eyewitness News about the difficult conditions. The nurse said her team must care for COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 patients because of limited staffing.
Health care staff in the Cardiovascular and Thoracic Immediate Care Unit recently got a memo that warned workers to prepare to treat up to six patients at once, she said.
The note from a supervisor stated, “Staffing numbers are unprecedented and there are no teammates to back to fill these staffing vacancies,” the nurse said.
The memo continues that staff members “need to be mentally prepared for this and, honestly, just do your best.”
The nurse said her supervisor stated that over the last two weeks, 21 workers in a unit have been absent with COVID-19 or are out getting tested.
[ALSO READ: Atrium seeks $75M for ‘Innovation District’ surrounding new medical school]
The nurse said her team has not received the right training to take care of COVID-19 patients and prevent an outbreak. Her team is emotional, stressed, and dodging illness, she said.
The North Carolina Healthcare Association said hospitals are filling up fast with many unvaccinated COVID-19 patients. NCHA stresses to practice the three W’s: wear a mask, wait six feet apart from one another, and wash your hands.
(Watch the video below: Mecklenburg County commissioners appear skeptical of Atrium tax breaks)
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