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| Gov. Cuomo to Redistribute 20 Percent of Unused Ventilators and PPE from Upstate Hospitals to Hospitals in Need Downstate April 04, 2020 05:00 p.m. |
issue an Executive Order allowing the state to redistribute ventilators and personal protective equipment, or PPE, from institutions that don't currently need them and redeploy the equipment to other hospitals with the highest need. The National Guard would be used to transport the ventilators and PPE across the state, Governor Cuomo said at a Friday press conference. The equipment will be returned to the hospital or the hospital will be reimbursed for the equipment in the future, he added. The late morning announcement wasn't very specific in nature, causing a great deal of confusion and concern from local representatives at the state and federal level. Late Friday afternoon a statement was issued from Senior Advisor to the Governor Rich Azzopardi, reading:
together. While the pandemic is primarily in downstate New York now - it is projected to peak and reduce in downstate and then increase in upstate. It is essential that we all help each other and the Governor is asking upstate hospitals to loan 20 percent of their unused ventilators to struggling downstate hospitals. Ventilators literally save lives. They will be returned or reimbursed to those hospitals. Moreover, when the pandemic wave hits upstate New York, the Governor will ask downstate hospitals for similar help. We are not upstate or downstate. We are one state and we act that way."
equipment, including ventilators and personal protective equipment. During a press conference on Thursday, Jerry Cayer, CEO at Lewis County Health System, said the hospital had completed the survey honestly and had submitted the results to state officials as directed. Mr. Cayer had previously stated that the facility had the ability to support six intensive care beds, with an intensive care bed including a ventilator. Based on the assumption the organization still had six ventilators available, and that none were in use, it would be expected that Lewis County Health System would be asked to lend one ventilator. We've reached out to Mr. Cayer and Lewis County Manager Ryan Piche to see if any direct request for equipment has been made to Lewis County Health System, which is owned by the county. At the time of publication we haven't received a response. We'll update as additional information is available. State Senator Joseph Griffo provided the following statement yesterday:
executive order that mandates the transfer of hospital supplies, including ventilators, from upstate health care facilities to downstate hospitals concerns me about what this action means for our region. I do not agree with the Governor’s approach and action he has taken to address this particular decision during this public health emergency. Before making this announcement, or any announcements, the Governor should have reached out to and informed local leaders and hospital officials. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen, and now local communities are scrambling to deal with this new order. Further, any type of intimidation or threat against any health care facility or local government is unacceptable and unthinkable from a leader in a time of crisis.
help others, the administration must ensure that any initiatives it undertakes does not put additional risk on the residents and communities of Upstate New York in any way. All regions of the state must have access to the critical resources that they need to effectively deal with any situation that may develop. I remain committed to ensuring that local hospitals and health care workers get the supplies and equipment they require, and that Mohawk Valley and North Country residents have access to the medical services they need when they need it.” Congresswoman Elise Stefanik issued the following statement on Friday:
regarding his plan to sign an executive order to shift ventilators from Upstate to Downstate New York,” said Congresswoman Stefanik. “The North Country comprises the largest number of seniors of any Congressional District in New York State, the most vulnerable age group to COVID-19. Our critical needs and vulnerabilities must be considered. North Country hospitals reached out to my office with this specific concern earlier this week – our rural hospitals are already very limited in resources and we must ensure Upstate New York’s needs for testing supplies and ventilators are fully met. I am committed to working through these concerns with both Republican and Democrat Upstate officials, our hospitals, and county public health offices." |
