Lake Health preparing for surge

System has taken multiple steps to keep community safe, officials report

Like other hospitals in Northeast Ohio and around the country, Lake Health is preparing for a projected surge in novel coronavirus patients.

The planning started months ago in collaboration with state, regional and county partners.

Notably, the system has expanded bed capacity at its hospitals as requested by Gov. Mike DeWine, according to Dino DiSanto, vice president of marketing and government affairs at Lake Health.

“We have plans in place for the worst,” DiSanto said. “Hopefully, we will not need them. But we are prepared to transition when we meet the point of critical mass on patient surge if that occurs.”

Cynthia Moore-Hardy, president and CEO of Lake Health, said waiting to encounter a potential COVID-19 surge is not an option, and that a proactive approach is necessary.

“We need to prepare now so that we can be ready to care for our friends, neighbors and

“We need to prepare now so that we can be ready to care for our friends, neighbors and loved ones when they need it most.”

— Cynthia Moore-Hardy, president and CEO of Lake Health

loved ones when they need it most,” she added.

Since the outbreak, Lake Health confirmed it has taken the following steps to keep the community safe from infection:

• Emergency plan — A COVID-19 Task Force has created an emergency plan on how to respond to the virus in Lake County and the surrounding communities, including capacity to handle and treat more patients on-site at the system’s three acute-care hospitals.

• Collaboration — Regular communication with the Lake County General Health District, Lake County Emergency Management Agency, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Ohio Department of Health, Ohio National Guard and other health care systems to share information and resources.

• Special treatment areas — The creation of special medical teams and specific units to treat COVID-19 patients, including a “split-flow” process of providing emergency medical care to patients. This means a patient who has symptoms of COVID-19 upon entering is immediately separated from others. The needs of that patient are then attended to in a dedicated area away from other populations. Included in these triage areas is a special Triage Tent outside of the West Medical Center Emergency Department.

• Supply plans — In anticipation of supply shortages across the United States, preparations began early to secure needed supplies. Every day teams are working through alternate supply chain options and finding ways to get needed supplies to facilities and front-line workers.

• New technology — In preparation for shortages of N95 respirators during a surge of COVID-19 patients, Lake Health has

started to use new technology to re-use and sterilize the protective devices to help extend lines of supply.

• New visitor guidelines — Newly implemented patient visitation guidelines, updated as the situation warrants, in efforts to keep patients, visitors and team members healthy and safe.

• Screening team members and visitors — Temperature checks of every individual entering system facilities.

• Community support — Includes an “outpouring” of monetary donations, supplies and food.

“I just want to thank all of our team members and, especially our medical staff, for coming together to help us prepare for the challenges every hospital is facing with COVID-19,” MooreHardy said.

“Their dedication and compassion is the driving force behind everything we do to protect our patients, staff and community during this unprecedented time.”