Wynn Hospital to temporarily delay major surgeries

Wynn Hospital will divert all trauma and major surgeries for the next week as it settles into its new environment, according to a statement.

Mohawk Valley Health System (MVHS) officials confirmed that as Wynn Hospital staff made final preparations to move into the new hospital, engineers were able to do a final test of the air handling systems on the second floor, which houses the Operating Rooms

(OR) and Cardiac

Cath Labs. It was determined that while the system was working, it did not meet expectations, officials said.

MVHS reached out to the New York State Department of Health to discuss options and recommendations, officials said. Since the majority of equipment and services has already been shifted to the Wynn, the Department of Health and MVHS concluded the move should continue as planned, and the two trauma rooms on the first floor and the two c-section rooms on the fourth floor, which are also set up as operating rooms, would be used for emergency surgeries, a statement reads.

Trauma patients will be diverted to other area hospitals, and elective surgeries, which were already curtailed for the move, will continue to be deferred during the time it takes to adjust the air handling systems to meet expectations. The projected date for this adjustment to be in place is Monday, Nov. 6, officials said.

“Unfortunately, the air handling system could only be tested once all areas were completely finished and closed off, which is why it wasn’t discovered until this week,” said Darlene Stromstad, president and CEO of Mohawk Valley Health System. “When you identify patient safety as your priority, the decision is easy. We will divert.”

This change is anticipated to impact 25 potential patients. Diversion plans are in place with local EMS providers and regional medical centers.