Nathan Lilley, General Manager
Area residents, patients and employees of Noble Health- Audrain Community Hospital are concerned about the hospital’s status after a notice circulated Friday. Dated March 18, the notice includes the headline, “IT Issues cause Callaway and Audrain Community hospitals to temporarily limit services. Both hospitals temporarily diverting EMS and ED services.”
The key word in the notice is “temporarily,” but that said, the news is not music to the ears of a region that strongly supports rural healthcare, and understands the need.
Continuing on, the notice further states:
The Audrain Community Hospital and the Callaway Community Hospital are temporarily limiting services effective immediately because of a technology issue with IT services.
This means that effective immediately:
The hospitals will stop inpatient admissions
All emergency medical services will be diverted to other area hospitals.
All physicians’ offices and specialty clinics in both counties will remain open and are not impacted by the IT issue. All hospital employees will still report to work and should keep in touch with their manager regarding any changes.
Both Amy O’Brien, CEO of Audrain Community Hospital, and Jeff Stone, interim CEO of Callaway Community Hospital, said that patient care is their top priority and that their teams are working “tirelessly” to address the issue.
The notice further states:
Once admission and EMS services are reinstated, hospital staff will alert the public through the media, social media and on the hospital’s website.
Patients and providers who need access to their records after 5 p.m. Monday, March 21, 2022 are instructed to fax a request to these numbers:
Audrain: 573-582-3712
Callaway: 888-539-7699
Hospital administrators ask for the public’s patience as they work through this issue.
The notice circulated just days after Noble’s one-year anniversary in Audrain County. And it’s caused concern within the community, from employees and patients alike, some of whom took to social media to express their thoughts. One report was that salaried employees weren’t paid during their recent pay period while hourly were.
Prior to the notice, CEO Amy O’Brien took time out to visit with The Mexico Ledger to recap year one’s challenges and successes and she was a guest on KXEO radio last week.
Posted Saturday on Facebook was a follow-up:
Effectively immediately, the Audrain Community Hospital and the Callaway Community Hospital will be temporarily limiting services because of an IT issue, effective immediately.. Inpatient admissions will be stopped and EMS services will be diverted.
We’re prioritizing patient care above all else. Please know we’re working tirelessly to address this issue. We ask for your patience and understanding. We will let the community know once inpatient admissions and EMS services are reinstated.
Monday, the hospital doors were open.
Attempts to contact the hospital weren’t immediately answered, but an email from Friday indicated it’s possible the issue could be resolved by Wednesday (today).
The Ledger will provide updates available.
