Bay College and the Delta Schoolcraft Intermediate School District helped OSF HealthCare St. Francis by donating medical equipment while the hospital is experiencing a surge in patients. Some of the supplies donated to the hospital are the beds shown above. (Courtesy photo )

ESCANABA — Bay College and the Delta Schoolcraft Intermediate School District helped OSF HealthCare St. Francis by donating medical equipment while the hospital is experiencing a surge in patients.

Both have been long standing partners with OSF HealthCare St. Francis Hospital & Medical Group in educating the future health care workforce. Over the past two months, OSF St. Francis has consistently experienced high patient volumes and acuity levels in the hospital.

This has resulted in the need to implement portions of the hospital’s surge plan to accommodate patients. Phase II of the plan included expansion of inpatient rooms which required additional hospital beds as well as other equipment. Immediately, Bay College and DSISD organized equipment to support the needs of the hospital and its patients. Bay College shared IV pumps and five hospital beds and the DSISD provided additional beds as well.

“Having the extra equipment at the ready ensures that we can quickly and efficiently move into a different phase of our surge plan when our inpatient capacity is at its maximum,” said Lacey Crabb, vice president, Patient Care Services and chief nursing officer. “We appreciate their support which ensures that we can continue to care for our community in a manner that upholds our patient care standards.”

“Bay College is committed to support the healthcare needs of our community during these unprecedented times. We value our partnership with OSF HealthCare to educate and train future healthcare professionals — nurses, medical assistants, paramedics and specialized healthcare careers,” said Dr Laura Coleman, Bay College president.

“OSF St. Francis would like to thank the community for its patience over the past few months,” the hospital stated in a press release. “The ongoing increase in patient volumes and acuity levels continues to add to wait times in the Walk-In Clinic and Emergency Department, as well as with transferring patients as these challenges are regional in nature. We encourage patients to seek out care from their primary care providers whenever possible in an effort to reduce the demand on urgent and emergency services.”

If you do not have a primary care provider, call the hospital’s new patient access line at (906) 233-4288 for assistance. In addition, reducing the risks of COVID-19 through vaccination, masking when indoors, social distancing, handwashing, getting tested and following quarantine guidance if you are sick continue to be the most important things that the community can do to reduce cases of COVID-19 ahead of the holiday season.