STAFF SHORTAGES BRING NEW TASKS

Hospital staff learn new tasks as COVID-19 puts strain onworkforce.

Derrek Thomas typicallyworks in the radiology department at Atrium Medical Center.

But these are not typical times due to the coronavirus pandemic and the impact it’s having on this region and in the medical community.

So PremierHealthhas launched the Helping Hands program at each of its locations in theDayton area tosupplement staffingduring times of high census. The program is away for Premier employees to assist with tasks in areas of operational need. Such jobs could range from wiping down high-touch surfaces, answering phones and stocking supplies to changing linens, folding gowns, sitting with patients and refilling ice and water.

Employees are trained and educated prior to serving on a unit, and are not asked to perform any task they are not trained to do or any work outside their comfort level, competency, and/or scope of licensure or certification, said Marquita Turner, chief operating officer/chief nursing officer at Atrium.

Late last month, Ohio’s hospitals had more than 4,300 COVID19 patients hospitalized and hundreds of caregiverswere unable to work because they were infected or exposed to the coronavirus, hospital administrators said.

Doctors onGov. MikeDeWine’s COVID-19 press briefing call last week saidhospitals will face tough decisions in the coming weeks about deploying resources and

delayingnon-emergencycare as the caseloads and hospitalizations rapidly increase.

“The workfor c e is exhausted. The exhaustion is palpable,” said Dr. Richard Lofgren fromUniversity of CincinnatiHealth System.

DeWine described it as “a runaway freight train.”

Premier is hoping to slow the train with assistance from its employees, who are volunteering to get paid towork in different departments.

Since participating in the program, Thomas, 56, who has been at AMC for nine years, hasworked in several departments, including the emergency department. On Monday night, he escorted patients to and from their rooms and helped sanitize the unit.

He said the programallows himtoexperiencethe“whole process” of the hospital. He remembers one shift when he delivered meals to patents. He noticed that one woman didn’t eat her meal, so he cut up her food and sat with herwhile she finished.

“It’s all about helping the patients,” hesaid.“Badtimes don’t last. We will get through this together.”

Turner said the Helping Hands programwill continue throughout the hospital systemuntil it’s “out of this crisis.” She said the programis in the beginning stages and the goal is to turn it into “a well oiled machine.”

Each of Premier’s sites has a Helping Hands program, including the five hospitals, three health centers, nine urgent cares and two standalone emergency centers. To date, more than 600 employees across Premier Health have volunteered for Helping Hands.

During the pandemic, Turner said the hospitals must continue to provide “top quality care” to its patients regardless of staffing issues.

ATRIUMMEDICAL CENTER Derrek Thomas, 56, who hasworked atAtriumMedical Center in Middletown for nine years, is participating in the hospital’sHelping Hands program. He hasworked outside the radiology department.