Natividad Foundation and Natividad recognized for COVID-19 response
The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged health care systems worldwide to meet the needs of their patients, communities and hospital staff. Critical shortages of ventilators, personal protection equipment (PPE), testing kits and overworked hospital staff are some of the obstacles faced this year by healthcare providers. Additionally, many urban and rural hospitals had an added challenge of disseminating vital COVID-19 information and resources to those whose native language isn’t English.
Disadvantaged communities and communities of color are disproportionately affected by the disease with higher infection and death rates. According to the CDC, hospitalization rates for Latinos are 4.5 times the rate among whites. They also face the most barriers to receive accurate, timely information about the disease and prevention.
There are an estimated 30,000 people in Monterey County who speak a rare or indigenous language and may not be able to understand local news reports. Many are Mexican and Central American immigrants who previously lived in villages so isolated they speak very little to no Spanish.
During the COVID-19 health crisis, Natividad refocused its resources on providing education and outreach to help prevent the disease’s spread within the community. The hospital launched communications efforts about the virus, targeting essential agricultural workers and other high-risk populations in Monterey County. It also created partnerships with the three other hospitals in the county, the Monterey County Health Department, activists, coalitions, and business organizations to better serve the vulnerable population.
One of the first outreach initiatives launched was a series of indigenous language videos about COVID-19 and the evolving shelter-in-place orders in Monterey County. Natividad and Natividad Foundation produced public service announcements in Triqui, Mixteco, Spanish, Zapoteco and English, available at www.natividad.com. “Everyone should have access to information that helps them stay healthy, especially during this uncertain time. We are so fortunate to have a team of indigenous language interpreters who are helping us connect with all members of our community,” said Natividad Chief Medical Officer Dr. Craig Walls. “The Indigenous Interpreting+ program at Natividad Foundation helps us realize Natividad’s mission of providing high-quality health care to all, including the vulnerable.”
This month, the California Association of Public Hospitals (CAPH) and the California Health care Safety Net Institute (SNI) recognized Natividad with the prestigious 2020 CAPH/SNI Quality Leaders Award.
The hospital’s entry, titled Natividad’s Action Plan for Caring for Communities in Crises & Beyond: Meeting Underserved and Vulnerable Populations Where They Are During the COVID-19 Pandemic, won in the Special Recognition — COVID-19 Response category. This is a new category created to recognize systems that made outstanding contributions to their communities with their COVID-19 response.
“I am so proud of our Natividad team — and all of the other public hospitals in California — that have risen to the challenge that COVID-19 presents, particularly for the most vulnerable patients that we serve,” said Hillary Fish, Natividad director of marketing and community relations. “We are incredibly honored to be recognized with the 2020 CAPH/SNI Quality Leaders award.”
Since the hospital’s COVID-19 awareness initiative began in February 2020, it has touched thousands of agricultural workers and hundreds of thousands of people in Monterey County directly, plus millions more nationally through media coverage.
“The judging panel was extremely impressed by the extensive outreach and patient engagement Natividad Medical Center undertook to care for and prevent COVID-19 transmission among the most vulnerable in their community,” said Giovanna Giuliani, executive director of the California Health Care Safety Net Institute. “To address the emerging pandemic, Natividad Medical Center moved quickly to cultivate innovative partner
ships and developed numerous and creative ways to reach the community. Congratulations to you and your team for your exceptional work!”
“A” Safety Grade and Recognition for Pandemic Heroism The Leapfrog Group, an independent national watchdog organization committed to health care quality and safety, awarded Natividad Medical Center an ‘A’ in the fall 2020 Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade.
The grade is based on a hospital’s performance in preventing medical errors, injuries, accidents, infections, and other harms to patients in their care. Developed under the guidance of a National Expert Panel, the Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade uses up to 27 measures of publicly available hospital safety data to assign grades to more than 2,600 U.S. acute-care hospitals twice per year. The Hospital Safety Grade’s methodology is peer-reviewed and fully transparent, and the results are free to the public.
This year, the hospital also received special recognition from Leapfrog for Pandemic Heroism. Early on in the pandemic, the hospital, along with hospitals throughout Monterey County, had to enforce strict visitor policies. Natividad’s doctors and nurses understood that connection is vital in the healing process and can have an incredibly positive effect on a patient’s prognosis. They became concerned that patients would feel isolated without their families being able to visit.
As a safety net hospital that treats all patients, many of the families Natividad serves do not have the resources to maintain regular contact with their loved ones virtually. The hospital partnered with Natividad Foundation, the 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization that supports and strengthens Natividad, to bring in iPad tablets to hospitalized patients without smart devices so they could visit with their loved ones through video conferencing.
“It’s a very emotional experience for patients to be away from their loved ones during this difficult and complicated time,” said Natividad Medical-Surgical Nurse Amber Oliveira. “Patients are missing support; it puts a lot of pressure on nurses to be more supportive so that patients know they are not alone. We understand that you can’t trade nursing support for family support.”
Donors to Natividad Foundation’s COVID-19 Relief & Resiliency Fund helped purchase tablets, which were provided to patients in need. Each tablet included access to communication applications such as FaceTime, Skype and Zoom. Natividad Foundation also purchased an assortment of chargers that were distributed to patients who did have smartphones or tablets, but who had forgotten their chargers at home.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has required hospitals and people who work in hospitals to sacrifice and lead as never before. We are honored to give special recognition to Natividad for their heroism during the pandemic,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. “We thank them for their profound service to their community and their powerful example for all Americans.”
More Global Recognition from Renowned Health Care Leaders
As part of Natividad Foundation’s Annual Donor & Hero Award Celebration, the foundation has recognized the Natividad “Family” as its 2020 Heroes. The “Hero” Award was established in 2008 to recognize and honor individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions toward fulfilling Natividad’s mission to provide essential health care services for everyone in Monterey County.
“We’ve seen the important work Natividad does for our community for years and years, but this year was different,” said Natividad Foundation President & CEO Jennifer Williams. “The planning, preparation and care the hospital staff has delivered during the pandemic has been remarkable.”
In a video montage unveiled during the Foundation’s Annual Donor & Hero Award Celebration on Thursday, October 29, world, national and local leaders and celebrities expressed their gratitude for the hospital’s essential workers.
Health care leaders such as Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Former Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta, Congressman Jimmy Panetta and Monterey County Supervisor Chris Lopez congratulate the hospital and its staff for their COVID-19 response. In addition to video messages from renowned individuals and organizations, Natividad also received a congratulatory letter from Dr. Robert R. Redfield, Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
In their address, Dr. Tedros and Dr. Fauci focus on the challenges Natividad has overcome related to preventing COVID-19 in a diverse farmworker population that often speaks languages other than English, including indigenous languages from Mexico.
“As we continue to contend with this historic pandemic that has upended so many facets of our lives, I am delighted to have this opportunity to thank the special frontline health care workers at Natividad hospital,” said Dr. Anthony Fauci. “At great risk to your own health, you bravely do your job day after day, caring for patients with COVID-19. It has been an extraordinary demonstration of selflessness and compassion.”
Natividad hospital staff received additional video recognition from:
• Fiona the Hippo of the Cincinnati Zoo
• Food Network’s Chef Duff Goldman
• Gabe Kapler, Manager of the San Francisco Giants
• San Francisco 49ers Fullback Kyle Juszczyk
• Chef Richard Blais of Bravo’s Top Chef
• Actress Danica McKellar
• Actress Melora Hardin
• Salinas Valley Chamber Board Chair Andrea Bailey
• San Francisco 4ers Assistant Offensive Coach Katie Sowers
• Cory Chalmers, Host of A&E’s Hoarders
• Robert DeLuca, Immediate Past President of the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians
• Paul Farmer, Chair of the Department of Global Health and Social Medicine at Harvard Medical School
• Andy Leach, Senior Director of Museum and Archival Collections at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
• Deepak Chopra, Alternative Medicine Advocate and Meditation Guru
• American Journalist Chris Hansen
“Receiving recognition from extraordinary people like Dr. Tedros, Dr. Fauci, Dr. Redfield and our Congressman is humbling,” said Natividad CEO Dr. Gary R. Gray. “Our hospital team is just doing what we know how to do: provide the best possible care to a very diverse population. We don’t think of ourselves as heroes, so it’s quite an honor to receive these messages.”
As the pandemic continues to impact health systems globally, Natividad remains committed to providing excellent patient care and safety.