Gloversville, N.Y.-based Nathan Littauer Hospital was forced to turn away patients for the third time in less than a month amid a surge in seasonal infections such as influenza and an uptick in COVID-19 cases, according to a Daily Gazette report Dec. 9.
The hospital — the only one in Fulton County — lifted its diversion policy in the early morning of Dec. 8 after turning away patients the previous evening. It had to do the same Nov. 16 and Nov. 30, according to the report.
The hospital has struggled with staffing shortages that are also affecting other hospitals both locally and statewide, Geoff Peck, vice president for business development, told the Gazette.
"It’s not responsible to continue to take patients without having the capacity to move them to the in-patient units in a timely manner," Mr. Peck said.
In January, the hospital was one of many in the state forced to stop elective surgeries as it faced capacity issues related to COVID-19 infections.