Schumer visits Lewis County to call on feds to launch plan to assist overwhelmed North Country hospitals
COPENHAGEN- RSV, the Flu and COVID – it’s all going around and our U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer paid a visit Saturday to Lewis County, where he called upon the feds to increase support for North Country hospitals currently swamped with very ill patients.
“North Country hospitals are facing an unprecedented surge in RSV cases among children, and public health experts all say it is only going to get worse as we enter the cold winter months,” Majority Leader Schumer (D-NY) said.
Schumer explained that this is the busiest RSV and flu season that Upstate hospitals, like Lewis County Health System and others, have ever seen. “Hospitals are doing their best on the frontlines, but the feds need to step up with a comprehensive plan to respond to this major spike and be ready for it to get worse. The feds have a unique ability to get more doctors and supplies where it’s needed, and they need to be prepared to do so," he added.
It’s reported that Lewis County is now averaging 70 RSV cases per-month.
"We are thankful for Senator Schumer's ongoing commitment to addressing rural health access challenges in Lewis County and throughout the North Country," said Gerald R. Cayer, MPH, CEO of Lewis County Health System. "His advocacy and work to secure additional resources for our health system and hospitals across the state are vital if we are to safeguard local access to health care today, tomorrow, and for the next generation.”
RSV is a common respiratory virus that usually causes mild, cold-like symptoms. Schumer said that while most adults recover in a week or two, RSV can be very serious, especially for young children and older adults.
Schumer said the spiking levels of RSV with growing flu rates warrants immediately federal action, and called for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to be ready to act at a moment’s notice to provide whatever support upstate hospitals need.
Specifically, Schumer said that he is calling for HHS to be ready and, if requested by hospitals, use its unique authority to help.
Tools at HHS’ disposal includes the power to support temporary structures like screening tents, surge staffing if there are not enough pediatricians available, moving patients across states lines, credentialing out of state providers, enhancing the use of telehealth, coordinating medical supply chains and more.
Image via the office of U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer.
