Hospital authorities disclose staff vaccination figures, assuring continued operational status
University of Rochester Medical Center Prepares for Vaccine Mandate, Anticipates Changes
The University of Rochester Medical Center (UR Medicine) is gearing up to meet New York State's vaccine mandate for health care workers, which takes effect on September 27.
As the mandate approaches, UR Medicine is intensifying recruitment efforts to fill vacant positions, with over 23,000 employees already choosing vaccination and the numbers steadily growing. However, temporary closures of UR Medicine Urgent Care centers in Spencerport and Farmington have been announced due to staff shortages.
Emergency services and critical care will continue across the UR Medicine system. Michael Apostolakos, M.D., the medical center's chief medical officer, emphasized the importance of vaccination in maintaining safety for healthcare workers, families, and the community. He stated that higher vaccination rates lead to fewer hospitalizations and deaths.
UR Medicine hospital leaders, clinical experts, and researchers have been providing information and answering questions about vaccines to employees since they became available last year. Efforts to educate employees about vaccines have intensified since the state mandate was announced on August 16, and continue through the mandate deadline.
Each hospital is developing flexible contingency plans based on best-case and worst-case vacancy levels after the mandate takes effect. Apostolakos anticipates inconveniences after the mandate takes effect, but critically needed care and many non-critical services will continue without interruption.
Patients can expect longer wait times for routine appointments and some employees will be asked to take on new responsibilities. Strong has closed hospital beds in several units, and Highland has postponed a small number of scheduled elective procedures beginning September 20 due to staff shortages. As of September 20, 99% of professional medical staff and 91% of all employees across the six UR Medicine hospitals are vaccinated.
In addition, UR Medicine Labs have temporarily closed some patient service centers due to staff shortages unrelated to the mandate. No relevant information was found regarding expected changes in staffing levels of health professions at UR Medicine Hospitals following the vaccination mandate for health professions in New York State effective September 27.
A two-week pause in scheduling new elective procedures at Strong has been initiated beginning September 27. UR Medicine is working diligently to ensure the smooth operation of its services while adhering to the state's vaccine mandate.
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