Alice Hyde Medical Center’s Family Maternity Center stopped delivering babies in early October due to staffing, hospital officials say. “Staffing shortages across the country are forcing hospitals to do things that are kind of unprecedented and have never been done before,” said Tammy Reynolds, associate vice president of nursing at Alice Hyde Medical Center. Since Oct. 4, they’ve been diverting patients to other hospitals, after Reynolds says some travel nurses did not renew their contracts. She notes the staffing shortage is not a result of the vaccine mandate for health care workers. “Unfortunately it put us in a position where we weren’t able to provide the quality in the safe care that we were used to providing,” Reynolds said. Brianna Backus, from Rensselaer Falls, is 30 weeks pregnant. “My son is definitely excited,” she said. For Backus’ specific health needs, she was set to deliver at Alice Hyde Medical Center. She says she did panic after hearing the news, and almost planned to deliver her new son at Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital in Plattsburgh. “I thought I was gonna have to do the two and half hour drive but luckily I found a hospital that is about the same distance as Alice Hyde is for me,” she said.She has concerns about moms who will have to drive the extra distance. “We do reassure them that if they do have an emergency or if they find themselves in a position where they don’t think they’re gonna make it to another hospital, that they certainly can come here. We still can deliver a baby here and do it safely,” Reynolds said. Reynolds said they can help expecting mothers transfer to other practices where they can get comfortable with staff during appointments leading up to the big day if the moms choose to do so. “I know that is obviously a concern and an anxiety that they would feel if you had been established in a practice and then had to change,” Reynolds said. “You want to know who’s there, who’s going to be there for you. You want to be familiar with them. You want to have a relationship,” Backus said. Reynolds said the maternity center’s diversion is temporary, hoping to reopen in as soon as four weeks. “As soon as we can recruit permanent and more traveling nurses, we are ready to open our doors again,” Reynolds said.
Alice Hyde Medical Center’s Family Maternity Center stopped delivering babies in early October due to staffing, hospital officials say.
“Staffing shortages across the country are forcing hospitals to do things that are kind of unprecedented and have never been done before,” said Tammy Reynolds, associate vice president of nursing at Alice Hyde Medical Center.
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Since Oct. 4, they’ve been diverting patients to other hospitals, after Reynolds says some travel nurses did not renew their contracts. She notes the staffing shortage is not a result of the vaccine mandate for health care workers.
“Unfortunately it put us in a position where we weren’t able to provide the quality in the safe care that we were used to providing,” Reynolds said.
Brianna Backus, from Rensselaer Falls, is 30 weeks pregnant.
“My son is definitely excited,” she said.
For Backus’ specific health needs, she was set to deliver at Alice Hyde Medical Center. She says she did panic after hearing the news, and almost planned to deliver her new son at Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital in Plattsburgh.
“I thought I was gonna have to do the two and half hour drive but luckily I found a hospital that is about the same distance as Alice Hyde is for me,” she said.
She has concerns about moms who will have to drive the extra distance.
“We do reassure them that if they do have an emergency or if they find themselves in a position where they don’t think they’re gonna make it to another hospital, that they certainly can come here. We still can deliver a baby here and do it safely,” Reynolds said.
Reynolds said they can help expecting mothers transfer to other practices where they can get comfortable with staff during appointments leading up to the big day if the moms choose to do so.
“I know that is obviously a concern and an anxiety that they would feel if you had been established in a practice and then had to change,” Reynolds said.
“You want to know who’s there, who’s going to be there for you. You want to be familiar with them. You want to have a relationship,” Backus said.
Reynolds said the maternity center’s diversion is temporary, hoping to reopen in as soon as four weeks.
“As soon as we can recruit permanent and more traveling nurses, we are ready to open our doors again,” Reynolds said.
