NGMC reaches peak patient capacity

GAINESVILLE - A high volume of people seeking medical care has caused Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville to reach peak capacity.<br /> <br /> According to Northeast Georgia Health System's Director of Public Relations and Marketing Melissa Tymchuk, while this has not led to the hospital turning away patients who come to the Emergency Room by way of ambulance for treatment, it has caused the facility to advise other area hospitals and Emergency Managment Services of their capacity status in order to determine the "most appropriate place" for an individual patient's care.<br /> <br /> Tymchuk in an email sent Thursday evening: "Depending on the patient's needs and (the) location of the incoming ambulance, we may let them know of our current patient load so they can decide if another nearby ER may be a faster place for care for that patient."<br /> <br /> NGMC is also apparently working to increase their overall staff numbers and bed capacity in order to alleviate patient throughput and wait times.<br /> <br /> <b><i>A press release has been issued to "help educate the public on the most appropriate place for care," and has been included below:</i></b><br /> <br /> <b>SHOULD YOU GO TO URGENT CARE, THE EMERGENCY ROOM OR CALL 911?</b><br /> <br /> <i>As temperatures outside drop and flu season peaks, it's important to know the most appropriate place to go for quick health care. Making the best decision for treatment doesn't just save you time and money, it also helps keep waiting rooms clear of unnecessary visitors, which means shorter wait times for everyone.<br /> <br /> First of all, true emergencies should always be treated in the emergency department (see below). For non-emergencies, the first option for care should always be your primary care provider. If they can't see you in a timely manner or it's after hours, try visiting an urgent care center. Visits to urgent care centers are often less expensive than trips to emergency departments (EDs). While you always must make the best decision for you based on your individual circumstances, here's a guide to help you choose the level of care that's right for you:<br /> <br /> Go to Urgent Care for:<br /> <br />

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