Medical staff overwhelmed by signs of gratitude
Health care workers have always been heroes. They have always seen a need, responded and taken care of patients, putting their own health at risk. But now, with the world battling COVID-19, medical workers have been crucial to controlling the pandemic, and the community has responded with gratitude.
Deborah Hutts, a clinical-services manager for the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, has been with the COVID-19 triage unit since its inception. She travels around the state to mobile testing sites as well.
“COVID-19 has really put health care workers on the front page,” Hutts said. “It has just been an overwhelming feeling of gratitude, and humbling as well.
“Our careers are focused on serving and providing lifesaving treatment. It can be kind of emotional. Several times, I have had tears in my eyes because of sheer exhaustion. I have been overwhelmed by the community response.”
Hutts has been with UAMS since August 2019, having moved from Arkansas Children’s Hospital to take over responsibility at the longevity clinic. She had been with UAMS for only six or seven months when COVID-19 hit. When UAMS opened a drive-thru testing site for COVID-19, Hutts’ boss pulled her into the office to lead it, saying the outbreak would not last too long or take too much of her time. That was almost a year ago.
“We have a dedicated staff, and we have gotten really good at morning huddles,” Hutts said. “Everyone has the skill set needed to do the job safely. … It has been one long and beautiful ride. We have had a wonderful outpouring of support, including desserts, snacks and cases of water and soda, and even handwritten thankyou notes.”
She said her drive-thru site does primary COVID-19 testing, and there are some providers who work in the drive-thru. Patients who are very sick are transferred to the emergency room.
“We see a little bit of everything,” she said. “We have caught a few heart attacks that have come through the drive and have seen them receive medical care in our emergency room.”
Cam Patterson, the chancellor for UAMS, said the release of the COVID-19 vaccines has provided a light at the end of the tunnel.
“With the rising number of deaths related to COVID-19 and the stress it has caused, it is great to have some good news,” Patterson said. “It gives people hope. Front-line health care workers feel safe, which is important.
“We hope [the release of the vaccines] will begin some degree of normalcy again.”
He said one of the real concerns he has had is the hard-to-reach patient population, many of whom are particularly vulnerable. He said the biggest question is, “How are we going to make sure all 3 million Arkansans have a chance to get a vaccine?”
He added that the community’s response to front-line health workers has been amazing.
“Our front-line workers have put themselves at risk and have worked longer-than-usual hours to take care of patients, and gifts and notes help them get through their days and maintain their resilience,” Patterson said.
Marisha DiCarlo, vice president of community advocacy, engagement and health for Arkansas Children’s Hospital, said the community’s response to front-line workers has been truly heartwarming.
“Early on in the pandemic, volunteers donated masks — either handmade cloth masks or clinical-grade masks — and to date, we have had more than 115,000 masks donated by volunteers and community members,” DiCarlo said.
She said local community organizations have had to pivot to find alternative methods of providing service because guests and volunteers aren’t allowed on campus. She added that she has seen some creative ways through which organizations have still reached out to patients and staff members. She said people have donated journals, adult coloring books and more than 1,400 items from the Amazon Wish List, which is especially geared for caregivers. “That has been pretty incredible,” she said.
More than 70 community restaurants and donors have provided meals for health care workers, she added. She estimated that more than 7,800 meals, as well as snacks, have been donated to staff members over the year.
She said one special contribution is a YouTube playlist for patients and caregivers. Patients can pull up the playlist and have it as a distraction and entertainment.
“This way, volunteers and the community can connect, even though they can’t be on campus,” she said. “I am so grateful for the community support.”