Bello: Monroe Community Hospital to accept limited number of new rehab patients from local hospitals to provide relief

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHEC) — Monroe Community Hospital will begin accepting a limited number of new rehab patients from local hospitals to help alleviate major backups, County Executive Adam Bello announced Wednesday.

A News10NBC Investigation by Investigative Reporter Jennifer Lewke exposed packed hospitals and a shortage of staff has backed up care. Her report found on a number of occasions, paramedics were forced to wait hours in emergency room hallways with patients on their stretchers.

NEW: @CountyExecBello tells me that Monroe Community Hospital will begin accepting some new rehab patients from local hospitals to help alleviate major backups. MCH has one of the highest employee #vaccination rates. @news10nbc

— Jennifer Lewke (@WHEC_JLewke) October 13, 2021

The shortage isn’t just impacting hospitals, as more than 20 local nursing homes have stopped accepting any new patients while they assess their staffing situations following the implementation of New York State’s vaccine mandate for healthcare workers. The mandate has caused patients who need nursing or rehabilitation care to pile up in local hospitals that can’t find placements to discharge them.

Ambulance companies told Lewke they feel the healthcare system is close to a "breaking point."

MCH paused its long-term care and rehabilitation admissions in anticipation of a shortage.

At the time of the report, Bello told Lewke he was working with the local healthcare leaders to try and address the shortage in the long-term care facilities and nursing homes.

The county only operates MCH. The hospital has one of the highest employee vaccination rates.

This is a developing story, stay with News10NBC for updates.