CRMC Capacity In Good Shape, Korth Says Wear Masks

Cookeville Regional CEO Paul Korth said slow test results are a problem at CRMC and across the health care system.

“Test results have slowed down because of the amount of testing that is being done,” Korth said. “It’s taking four to five, six days to get test results back.”

Korth said the fix would be in-house testing where a hospital could return results in hours. He said that remedy is likely months away.

“I was just at a meeting with state officials and that’s one of the things I told them is needed the most not only in our hospital but also hospitals across the state, they need to do something to get in-house testing at all of our facilities,” Korth said.

Cookeville Regional reported 27 COVID-positive patients in the hospital Tuesday with 11 in ICU. Korth said capacity is not an issue, with the suspension of overnight elective surgeries helping to keep capabilities high.

“We still have a large capacity ability,” Korth said. “I feel pretty confident right now we could take care of a good 50 more patients if we needed to.”

Korth said the community needs to be focused on wearing masks in public settings.

“It is a proven statistic over and over again in any type of infection that masking helps reduce the spread,” Korth said. “I cannot over emphasize the fact that all of our citizens need to be wearing masks when they’re out in public. When they’re going to church, when they’re going shopping, wherever they’re at.”