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Q&A
Impact of potential work stoppage on vulnerable patient populations at H+H facilities
1:51:59
·
79 sec
Council Member Mercedes Narcisse inquires about the potential impact of a work stoppage on vulnerable patient populations at H+H facilities. Dr. Mitch Katz explains the likely effects and mitigation strategies.
- Low-income people in New York City would be disproportionately affected
- ICU patients would be prioritized for transfer to other facilities if necessary
- Outpatient appointments would be canceled, with urgent cases directed to emergency departments
- A triage system would be implemented to manage patient care during the stoppage
Mercedes Narcisse
1:51:59
I do.
1:52:02
Are there specific when if there is a stoppage, right, are there specific patient population like the elderly, chronically ill folks, who will be disproportionately affected?
Mitch Katz
1:52:14
Well, that's certainly who we take care of.
1:52:17
So, I mean, the low income people in New York City will be disproportionately affected, because that's that that's who
Mercedes Narcisse
1:52:25
we should
Mitch Katz
1:52:25
take care of.
1:52:26
I mean, in terms of transferring, we would first transfer out ICU patients just because if you're not fully staffed, right, that's, you know, where you worry the most about any losses as somebody.
1:52:40
If you don't you don't have everybody in your ICU, you know, to take care of the patients, you're gonna have to transfer them out.
1:52:49
But, you know, we'll, you know, we'll we'll you're a triage system.
1:52:52
Right?
1:52:52
I mean, the for example, you'll we'll cancel the, outpatient appointments, but we'll tell anyone when we call, if you have an urgent problem, go to the emergency department, and all of those outpatient people who are not on psych will be in the emergency department.
1:53:08
Right?
1:53:09
Some people have a visit that can wait a month, and some people have an issue that has to be dealt with today.
1:53:15
And we'll have to triage which of those it is.