With hospitals “operating at disaster levels,” Martinsville city officials say first responders will limit the number of people brought to the emergency room in ambulances because of the current conditions impacting staffing and capacities at hospitals. The City of Martinsville announced on Wednesday, Sept. 15 that patients who do not meet the criteria for ambulance transport to an ER will be advised to see their primary care provider, use telemedicine, or visit an urgent care center.
Not only are there a limited number of beds at hospitals, but city officials say most of the hospital emergency departments are holding critical patients who need significant space and resources that are no longer available to those departments.