Medical Center leaders shared multiphase plans for what our hospitals would do to increase capacity for the likely surge in hospitalizations due to COVID-19 in the Rochester region. Strong Memorial Hospital Chief Medical Officer Michael Apostolakos and Chief Operating Officer Kathleen Parrinello outlined those plans at a news conference with officials from the county and Rochester Regional Health yesterday.
If all three phases of the plan are activated, an additional 1,099 in-patient beds would be available.
The public plays a huge role in whether these plans will need to be carried out, Apostolakos said. “This is not simply about capacity. It’s about demand of beds,” he said.
“The more social distancing we practice, the more that people take the governor’s and the county executive’s and other health officials’ advice to stay home—will save the hospitals’ capacity and enable us to care for everyone and reduce mortality. It truly is a life-and-death situation for everyone in the community to take seriously.”