Tonasket hospital struggles with increased patient load, reduced staffing levels
The hospital had to divert patients to other area healthcare facilities earlier in the pandemic due to understaffing caused by the coronavirus. Author: Taylor Viydo Updated: 8:00 AM PST December 22, 2020
TONASKET, Wash. Like other healthcare facilities impacted by the coronavirus pandemic, Tonasket s North Valley Hospital has recently been dealing with rising patient numbers and fluctuating employee levels.
Unlike larger hospitals, however, staff at North Valley know there s a higher chance they could be treating someone they know for COVID-19. You re taking care of, literally, your friends, family, and neighbors, hospital CEO John McReynolds told KREM during an interview in early December. So that s good, but it also can be really challenging sometimes.