COVID-19 COMMUNICATIONS OUR COMMUNITY. OUR HOSPITALS.

An Open Letter To Our Employees and Physcians

A number of concerns have been voiced regarding our PPE usage and screening. I want to ensure all of our employees and physicians that the safety of our caregivers is our first priority. Without ensuring your safety, it jeopardizes our ability to take care of patients in the community. We have implemented every recommendation from the Department of Health and as you are probably aware, have instituted screening for every individual entering the hospital. The wearing of a mask is now required at all times. We have adequate PPE so that any employee has the appropriate PPE that is needed to provide care and fulfill our responsibilities. We have always followed CDC guidelines and recommendations from our infection control team and continue to do so. To ensure we are not missing any recommendations, we spoke with the Department of Health today and we are in compliance with all of their recommendations. There is nothing more important than your safety. We will continue to update you on a regular basis and will arrange a town hall call in for our employees at different times next week. I need your feedback and need to hear your concerns. As we are all aware, we had a number of employees test positive for COVID-19. We are working in partnership with the Department of Health and furloughing employees as needed and have also tested any employees and patients that may have been in contact with positive employees. We are doing what is appropriate and working with the Department of Health so that if any employees or patients are confirmed positive, they are immediately placed on furlough and patients are placed in isolation to continue care appropriately. We are doing everything to mitigate any exposure and provide the safest environment for all of us. We are learning more about this virus every day and policies will change as we learn. We are focused on ensuring every employee has whatever is needed to provide safe care for themselves and our patients. We are all in this together. We need to be talking and communicating to make sure that we are protecting each other and the community we serve.