Saint Francis Hospital In Muskogee Struggling With Staff, Bed Shortage

Saint Francis Hospital officials say their Muskogee location has a shortage of beds and staffing. They say it's due to a record level of hospitalizations of patients with COVID-19 and other illnesses.

The city of Muskogee has not imposed a mask mandate since the pandemic. Now Muskogee Saint Francis officials are urging the city to put one in place.

Fort Gibson resident Chad Duke - Muskogee Saint Francis is the largest hospital around, so he was surprised when his 80-year-old grandmother couldn't receive care because the hospital is short on beds.

"They got on the phones they called Tulsa and all the surrounding hospitals, and they finally found a room for her the next day and Tahlequah. "So, for them not to have a place for her on the floor at all, and for them to automatically look to transfer her to simple care --- that's a little concerning," Duke explained.

City councilor Ivory Vann believes the solution is simple --- the city of Muskogee needs a mask mandate. He also says it's an issue he says he's been fighting to impose for months.

"Just this past week this will be the third time in the council I tried to put a mask mandate on the agenda for the city of Muskogee," Vann told News on 6"

The council had a 5 to 4 vote against the mandate last week. Vann says he hopes those opposed will reconsider. "If Saint Francis is saying mandate --- and that's a hospital --- we need to listen to Saint Francis, and we need to listen to the doctors," Vann added.

Saint Francis Vice President Michelle Keeling wrote an email to city leaders last week. Her statement reads:

"The issue of mask-wearing has sadly become political. For healthcare workers, this issue is personal --- masks make a difference. I cannot voice my opinion strongly enough, on behalf of our entire workforce, to adopt a policy to require the wearing of masks in public. The scientific community and public health officials are clear that masking limits the spread of COVID-19. Unfortunately, the gravity of this message has not been completely understood amongst the public. Not only does masking help to slow the spread of the virus, but it also decreases the severity of the disease by reducing the volume of virus that enters one's system. It is scientifically proven that masking can lower the severity and symptoms of COVID-19 and in turn can reduce the number of hospitalizations and associated mortality of the virus.

Masks stop the spread of COVID from asymptomatic people who may never go on to develop symptoms of COVID but can still transmit the virus. Some healthcare workers have left the profession due to the fears and strain of caring for COVID patients. The staffing situation is made worse by the numbers of staff quarantined due to household members testing positive. With all of the misinformation being circulated about masks and the seriousness of this virus, I beg you to listen to those of us on the front lines.

In my 24 years with the health system, I can't think of a time where we have collectively raised the red flag asking for help from the community. But here we are now. We need your help—please join me in being an ambassador for health and safety in Muskogee; please support your healthcare workers by supporting a mask mandate."

Muskogee's COVID task force sent a statement to News on 6:

"Nothing seems to be more divisive than to have a conversation about a mask mandate. However, we owe it to all of our residents whether they agree or not to do our due diligence to Develop a policy that addresses the community spread of COVID-19 that addresses public health and safety, keeps small businesses afloat, and grows our community. A mask mandate is a last resort, but we are obligated to look at all options. The challenge for small communities is in enforceability which we do not believe we have a capacity to do."