FEMA: Florida veterans hospitals can admit non-veterans during pandemic

Florida veterans hospitals are able to admit non-veteran patients if requested by the Florida Department of Health to assist community hospitals in treating patients with or without the coronavirus, according to Mary Kay Rutan, spokeswoman for the Veterans Affairs network that oversees medical facilities in Florida.

As of Thursday, there have been no requests for this assistance, Rutan added.

It’s the second mission assignment for Florida veterans hospitals from the Federal Emergency Management Agency during the pandemic.

Since mid-April, Florida veterans facilities, including the Bay Pines VA Healthcare System based in St. Petersburg and the James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital in Tampa, also have deployed clinical staff to support community nursing homes across the state. Thirty-five staffers from Bay Pines and 41 from the Tampa veterans healthcare system have supported this mission, according to hospital spokespersons.

Both facilities have had to reduce some services for veterans during the pandemic.

As of Thursday morning, the Bay Pines system reported 89 patients currently with COVID-19 and nine total known deaths.

“Non-acute surgeries and the reopening of additional primary and specialty clinics remains on hold,” said Bay Pines spokeswoman Anna Hancock in an email. The facility has two intensive care units, she said, and “the capability of expanding, depending on the demands for inpatient services.”

“Our medical intensive care unit designated for patients with (the) coronavirus is at 54 percent capacity,” she added, saying the figure doesn’t account for the expansion capability.

The Tampa veterans system has, since July 7, “postponed elective procedures that require admission to the hospital,” said spokeswoman Shayna Rodriguez in an email. Critical procedures and those that do not require admission, such as outpatient procedures, are not impacted, she said.

In Tampa, 22 percent of the intensive care unit beds are available, she said.

As of Thursday morning, the Tampa system reported 103 patients currently with COVID-19 and 15 total deaths.

• • •

Tampa Bay Times coronavirus coverage

HOW CORONAVIRUS IS SPREADING IN FLORIDA: Find the latest numbers for your county, city or zip code.

LATEST ON CORONAVIRUS: Six things we’ve learned about the coronavirus since March.

MASK UPDATE: Find out where you have to wear a mask in Tampa Bay

GET THE DAYSTARTER MORNING UPDATE: Sign up to receive the most up-to-date information.

THE CORONAVIRUS SCRAPBOOK: We collected your stories, pictures, songs, recipes, journals and more to show what life has been like during the pandemic.

HAVE A TIP?: Send us confidential news tips

We’re working hard to bring you the latest news on the coronavirus in Florida. This effort takes a lot of resources to gather and update. If you haven’t already subscribed, please consider buying a print or digital subscription.