Sentara RMH Summer 2020 Magazine

SENTARA RMH SUMMER 2020

Magazine

COVID-19 Sentara RMH Steps Up to the Challenge

SPECIAL EDITION

PLUS: Healthcare Heroes Work Here Connecting with Patients Online | The Community Reaches Out

PRESIDENT’S LETTER

2020 SENTARA RMH BOARD Joseph Funkhouser II | Chair

Jerry Benson, PhD | Vice Chair Devon Anders Morris Fendley, MD C. Wayne Gates, MD Jonathan S. Davis, MPH, FACHE Terrie Edwards Michael Gentry Douglas Moyer

SENTARA RMH ADMINISTRATORS

Douglas Moyer President

Richard Haushalter Vice President of Administration

Donna Hahn, DNP, RN, NEA-BC Vice President of Acute Care/CNE

Anthony Bruno, MD, MBA Vice President of Medical Affairs

Rita A. Bunch, MPH, FACHE Vice President of Operations

SENTARA RMH MAGAZINE EDITORS

Jenn Downs Neil Mowbray CONTRIBUTORS

Luanne Austin Preston Knight

A Great Team Faces an Extraordinary Challenge

W

hat a year 2020 has turned out to be!

Over the past few months, we’ve experienced a pandemic unlike anything seen in our country in a century. As the economies of nations across the world have spiraled downward, we have been deploying initiatives to slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus. More recently, we were shocked by the inexcusable brutality exercised against one of our fellow citizens, and by the subsequent wave of unrest, violence and destruction that gripped many of our nation’s cities.

During that same time period, however, we’ve seen many positive stories as well. Throughout the United States, we have read about selfless people stepping up, reaching out and taking care of those around them—elderly neighbors, family members, and even strangers who perhaps could not make it to the grocery store or pharmacy. Others have provided moral support and charitable contributions to those who faced tremendous loss. And thousands of citizens across the country have stood up for the dignity and rights of others in a peaceful way.

Locally, COVID-19 has brought its share of suffering, loss and death—but thankfully, to date, not to the extent that reputable sources had predicted.

We have continued to witness the compassion, courage and faith of our own community members as they have taken care of one another in the hospital and everywhere around us.

In this letter, I typically share stories about our Sentara RMH team of providers, and rightly so. Our physicians, nurses, clinicians and support staff are an exceptional group of individuals who demonstrate their true mettle every day through the outstanding service and care they deliver. After living and working alongside this team for more than four months and witnessing firsthand how they have stepped up to face the COVID-19 challenge courageously and compassionately, I can truthfully say that I have never been prouder to be their team member.

The same goes for our community. It is an honor to live and work with such generous and compassionate people. Your support throughout the pandemic has been an important mainstay in helping the Sentara RMH team work through the many anxieties, complexities and challenges generated by this virus.

You will notice that this issue of Sentara RMH Magazine is much shorter than normal because, since early March, nearly 100% of our team has been focused on responding to the pandemic. With that in mind, along with the need to practice social distancing and avoid unnecessary close contact with others, the decision was made to produce a special issue of the 2020 summer magazine that would provide a brief account of the Sentara RMH response to the coronavirus pandemic.

In the following pages, you can read about how we have worked to meet the challenges presented by COVID-19. In many respects, this is our story—the hospital’s and the community’s. Thank you for your continued support of and trust in Sentara RMH. Respectfully,

PHOTOGRAPHY

Tommy Thompson Sentara RMH Staff DESIGN

Picante Creative

Doug Moyer President, Sentara RMH Medical Center

Contents

SUMMER 2020

SPECIAL EDITION

President’s Letter Inside front cover Your Safety is Our No. 1 Priority 2 Healthcare Heroes Work Here 4 Meeting the COVID-19 Challenge Head-On 7

7

Virtual Visits: Connecting with Patients Online 10 A Generous Community Reaches Out 12 RMH Foundation: Newly Created Crisis Fund 15

12

10

YOUR

SAFETY IS OUR

NO. 1 PRIORITY

public—Sentara RMH severely limited visitation in the hospital in the early weeks of the pandemic and encouraged people with suspected COVID-19 infection to avoid coming to the Emergency Department without first calling their primary care physician. In addition, nearly all nonelective medical and surgical procedures were suspended, and most outpatient clinic visits were conducted online as virtual/telemedicine consults through computers or smartphones.

With those early measures in mind, it's understandable that as restrictions are lifted and we transition back to our “new normal,” patients might have some hesitation about returning and seeking medical help in person. While we are all adjusting to these new circumstances, the most important message we want to convey to the community is this: Your safety is our top priority.

What We Are Doing to Keep You Safe

T

he first of Sentara’s five commitments to patients, “ALWAYS keep you safe,” has been a guiding principle since the hospital opened in 1912, and continues to be a primary focus at Sentara RMH during the COVID-19 pandemic.

At the start of the pandemic, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Virginia Department of Health

2 |

SUMMER 2020

(VDH), and the Virginia state government provided almost nonstop messaging relating to the virus. They encouraged everyone to stay home, limit close contact with others by maintaining social distancing of at least six feet, and avoid being in groups of more than 10 people.

In keeping with these mandates—and to protect patients, hospital staff and the

As we have continued to live with the pandemic, the hospital has relaxed its visitation policy somewhat, Sentara RMH outpatient clinics are now providing more face-to-face appointments, and elective or nonessential surgeries and other procedures are again being offered—all in keeping with Gov. Northam’s recommendations for implementing a phased reopening of the commonwealth. Be assured that our hospital, Emergency Department and outpatient clinics are all open for business, and that it is safe to come in for care when you need our services.

“We have implemented a screening process for everyone entering our facilities,” says Anthony Bruno, MD, Sentara RMH vice president for medical affairs.

“At the hospital, all of our care providers, other staff and visitors are being screened, and any staff member or visitor who may be infectious with COVID-19 is being denied entrance. We’re using these screenings as best practices to help ensure that everyone remains safe.”

The Emergency Department (ED) is an essential part of Sentara RMH’s patient

Cleaning Protocols in Effect Our protocols for the healthcare setting meet or exceed national COVID-19 guidelines.

•

We use CDC-recommended protocols for cleaning and managing everything from bathrooms, light fixtures and furniture to medical waste, laundry and food-service utensils.

•

We use comprehensive, multistep checklists to clean patient rooms in all of our facilities between each visit and at the end of each day.

•

Our detailed checklists ensure we are both aware of and diligently following our cleaning requirements, including how to sanitize high-touch areas and other surfaces, how to safely wear and remove personal protective equipment, and how to use our UV light disinfection technology.

•

We routinely clean common areas and wipe down shared objects such as pens, doorknobs and chairs with EPA-approved cleaning supplies between each use.

services, and delaying treatment for any medical emergency— during a pandemic or not—is dangerous. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, you should come to the ED without delay. Medical emergencies requiring immediate attention in the ED include suspected heart attack or stroke, serious injuries, high fever, and other worsening or concerning symptoms.

When you enter the ED, you can expect to be separated from others immediately, based on the likelihood of COVID-19 infection. You will be met by a staff member dressed in appropriate personal protective equipment, and you will be given a mask to wear, if you do not already have one. You will go through a screening process, and patients who have any suspicious symptoms will be kept separate from all others entering the ED for other medical reasons.

To protect patients admitted for disease processes unrelated to COVID-19, we have implemented stringent safeguards within the hospital to reduce their risk of contracting the virus during hospitalization.

“In addition, patients undergoing elective surgeries and other procedures that are riskier for virus transmission are being tested for COVID-19 as part of the preparation for their operation or test,” says Dr. Bruno.

Visitors to the hospital, as well as those with face-to-face appointments in our Sentara Medical Group clinics, can expect to undergo a screening process before being allowed to enter medical facilities. They also may be asked to wear a mask while they are in the building and to observe social distancing recommendations. In addition, we have made changes to our physical

environments to help ensure proper social distancing. Waiting rooms now contain fewer chairs, magazines and books have been removed, and ongoing cleaning of high-touch surfaces is taking place throughout the day as patients come and go.

Staff members are following strict guidelines as well, practicing frequent hand-washing and wearing masks to protect patients, co-workers and themselves from the potential spread of the virus.

Safety is Everyone’s Primary Concern “We want to assure patients that it is safe to come to the doctor’s office,” says Bruce Clemons, MD, FACP, executive director of primary care services for the Sentara Blue Ridge Region. “Our staff and providers have made every effort to ensure the safety of patients while they’re in our facilities. We will continue to use virtual care, when appropriate, to decrease the number of people in an office at any given time.

However, there are still going to be many patients who need to be seen in person, and we don’t want them to delay care due to concerns about safety.”

Rest assured that Sentara RMH Medical Center and the Sentara Medical Group remain firmly dedicated to the safety of patients, visitors and staff. We commit to ALWAYS keep you safe.

The latest information on the COVID-19 pandemic, including our latest visitation policy, can be found at sentara.com/safe.

sentara.com

|

3

E R A C H T L HEA HERHOEerSe Work Sentara RMH Medical Center honors all of our team members as “healthcare heroes”—the physicians, nurses and other clinicians on the front lines, but also our housekeepers, food service staff, security officers, maintenance and facilities crews, and office staff.

Every team member plays an important role that supports the hospital and contributes to our success in fulfilling our Sentara mission of improving health every day.

The team members highlighted here represent a mere fraction of our team, which has responded so courageously to the challenges posed by COVID-19.

The hospital values and thanks each team member for faithfully carrying out the daily responsibilities of their jobs.

Our team is Sentara RMH!

4 |

SUMMER 2020

Katie Davis, RT(R)(CT) Imaging Services

Katie Davis is a CT technologist in the Imaging Department who self-isolated from her family during the pandemic so she could continue caring for patients.

“I really appreciate how the community came together to recognize healthcare workers on the front lines.

Their support helped us get through some very tough days. I’m especially grateful to Randy Harman, owner of the Sleep Inn in Harrisonburg, who opened up his hotel to healthcare workers so we could keep our families safe, free of charge, during all of this. Thanks to Randy, I was able to stay at the Sleep Inn for two months. His generous offer came at just the right time for our families.

I work with a wonderful team of care providers, and we’ve all banded together to help each other and our community get through this very stressful time. We know we can get through this if we stick together.”

Joy Clayton, RRT Heart and Vascular Services

Joy Clayton is a registered respiratory therapist who works in cardiopulmonary rehabilitation in the main hospital.

“As part of the patient care team, one of the most impressive things was seeing the bravery of our staff as they came together from all departments to help each other take care of COVID patients, and to prepare in case we had a surge in patients. We’re here at Sentara RMH because we want to help and care for people, and we’re doing everything we can to keep patients safe. But it is also very meaningful to see how the community has cared for us—with support shown through supportive signs posted around the hospital, donations of food and personal protective equipment, and people’s thoughtful prayers.”

Wena Golladay Environmental Services

Wena Golladay and the other members of the Environmental Services team are frontline workers who bear the greatest responsibility for keeping the hospital and Sentara RMH outpatient facilities clean and safe for everyone.

“With all the uncertainty, I’m thankful for the many times I’ve been able to share my trust and faith in my Lord and Savior. I’m also thankful for my team members in Environmental Services. They’ve been great, and we’ve been there for one another through it all. Sentara RMH is a great place to work, and I’m happy to be part of the team that helps keep the hospital sanitized to protect patients and staff.”

Tina Crum Materials Management

Tina Crum works as a team coordinator in Materials Management.

“This pandemic has been a really trying, exhausting time for everyone. We’ve all been pushed to our limits, but we’ve also pulled together to meet the challenge. That’s the most rewarding thing about this—seeing everyone helping, encouraging and just being there for each other. Working in Materials Management, we sometimes feel like we’re on the sidelines, but through this whole pandemic, everyone in the entire hospital has worked together to make sure every one of our patients and co-workers is taken care of.”

Earl King, MD Pulmonary and Critical Care

Dr. Earl King is in practice with Sentara Pulmonary & Critical Care Specialists at Sentara RMH. “It has been most satisfying working with my colleagues—Tanya Raef, CRNP; Dan Ruch, PA; Dr. Aklilu Degene; Dr. Fasika Weldearegay; Dr. Mosaab Bagegni; and the superb critical care nurses and respiratory therapists—to care for our critically ill patients, knowing everyone is ‘giving their all’ to help them recover. I also want to express my heartfelt gratitude to my spouse, Cathie Sue, for supporting me through this difficult time of work. I could not have made it this far without her.”

Rick Villiard Jr., PharmD, BCCP, BCPS Pharmacy

Rick Villiard is a clinical pharmacy specialist who frequently works in critical care.

“The most rewarding thing for me has been seeing critically ill patients with COVID-19 improve and recover. Being part of a dedicated multidisciplinary team that cares for these patients is a real privilege.

I’m also part of a critical care multidisciplinary team that meets at least weekly to review and update our systemwide COVID-19 treatment guidelines, which incorporate the latest treatment recommendations taken from medical literature and help ensure that our patients receive the most up-to-date therapy possible.

It’s inspiring to see the dedication of my co-workers at Sentara RMH, and I want the community we serve to know we are dedicated to serving our patients and keeping them safe.”

sentara.com

|

5

Vicky Heishman, RN, BSN Continuum Case Managers

Zulma Argueta Community Health

Zulma Argueta serves as a community health educator in the Sentara RMH Community Health Department. She works with Healthy Families of the Blue Ridge, a voluntary program that helps first-time parents learn about how children develop, how to keep them healthy and how to prepare them to do well in school.

“Working through this pandemic has been challenging and rewarding at the same time. I have transitioned from doing in-person home visits to doing 100% virtual visits—a process that has been successful and mostly received well by the families with whom I work. Thanks to virtual visits, I have been able to continue offering support to families in our community to make sure they have the resources they need. It brings me joy and purpose when I hear moms express their gratitude for being able to receive services in these uncertain times.

At Community Health we all work together as a team, and I feel blessed to work with such a compassionate group. I’m also grateful to live in a community like ours that pulls together to continue offering great resources for families.”

6 |

SUMMER 2020

Vicky Heishman is a Sentara RMH continuum case manager who follows up with patients who are either isolating at home after testing or after being discharged from the hospital—particularly those patients at high risk for complications that could result in readmission.

“Although my normal role at Sentara RMH is as a continuum nurse case manager, during the COVID-19 pandemic I took on a new role as a member of the Sentara Home Monitoring Program team. This team, which includes a group of nurses throughout the Sentara system, was developed to serve patients who test positive for COVID-19 and are isolating in their homes.

We call these patients every two to three days to assess their symptoms, instruct them in CDC and Virginia Department of Health guidelines for isolation and quarantine, and guide them in seeking any further needed medical attention.

We are also able to direct them to resources, if they face a lack of food or medicine or have other needs. COVID-19 can be a scary virus due to its many health-related unknowns, as well as the isolation it can create for patients and the changes in guidelines that often come about as we learn more about the virus. What I find most rewarding about working during this difficult time is being able to provide emotional support, answer questions and serve as a caring presence to these patients and their families.”

MEETING THE

COVID-19 Challenge

HEAD-ON Like many organizations, hospitals regularly create detailed contingency plans for various crisis scenarios—and then hope they never have to use them. If a crisis does occur, however, such plans enable decision-makers to meet challenges more effectively, rather than inventing responses “on the fly.”

sentara.com

|

7

Early Preparations

Sentara RMH Medical Center has multiple emergency plans in place to help staff respond to a variety of crisis situations, including masscasualty events, severe weather, information systems downtime and other disruptive events.

In addition, hospital physicians, nurses and other clinicians are well trained in how to handle infectious and dangerous pathogens.

So in many respects, Sentara RMH wasn’t caught off guard by the onset of the novel coronavirus. The challenge presented by COVID-19 instead primarily was due to the fact that there were so many unknowns about the virus as it first struck.

8 |

SUMMER 2020

Working with the Sentara system’s crisis-management team, Sentara RMH began putting processes and infrastructure in place to address the pandemic, even as the public began hearing initial media reports about the coronavirus. One of the first things administrators did was assemble an incident-command team to guide the hospital’s response, in accordance with guidelines established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Virginia Department of Health (VDH).

Before the first COVID patients presented to the hospital, an early priority for planners was to set up logistics to handle COVID-positive and COVID-suspected patients, in order to keep them separated from non-COVID patients. With this goal in mind, the Sentara RMH Facilities Management team set up two tents outside the Emergency Department (ED) to serve as screening sites for all ambulatory patients coming to the ED. “This allowed us to triage patients safely at the start of their emergency visit,” says Donna Hahn, DNP, RN, NEABC, vice president of acute care services and chief nurse executive for Sentara RMH. “Patients would be greeted outside the ED entrance by a team member who would ask them a series of screening questions about symptoms, travel history and other COVID-related details.”

If the patient’s answers were consistent with potential coronavirus infection, they were directed to the tents,

where a second team member in full personal protective equipment (PPE) would ask more detailed questions to determine if the patient should be tested for COVID-19.

Inside the hospital, several nursing units were converted into units capable of safely caring for COVID-positive and COVID-suspected patients. Sentara RMH also began preparing for a predicted surge in COVID patients, which, thankfully, has not materialized as of this writing.

All Sentara hospitals, including Sentara RMH, quickly established dedicated respiratory units for inpatients who tested “presumptive positive” for COVID-19, and for those awaiting test results. High-risk or confirmed COVID-19 patients whose symptoms required hospitalization were cared for in individual patient rooms within these dedicated respiratory units.

Transitioning Roles The Sentara RMH nursing team began planning immediately to cross-train and credential nurses to work in COVID units, or to work in other units where they were not normally assigned. Jill Delawder, DNP, RN, APRN, ACCNS-AG, CCRN-CSC, manager of patient care services, nursing education and staff development, led the staff development education team to provide the training.

“We redeployed staff from the procedural areas—where patient volumes had decreased due to canceled elective surgeries and other procedures—and cross-trained them to work in the inpatient units in preparation for a surge of COVID-19 patients,” says Delawder.

“We assessed their current skills and competency levels and then held skills classes to provide the additional training and hands-on experience they needed.”

Redeployed nurses also spent time on the units with a preceptor to gain additional skills and competence, notes Delawder.

Other Notable Changes The limited availability of COVID-19 testing has been a concern for caregivers and others from the beginning of the pandemic. To help address this issue, Sentara Norfolk General began conducting in-house testing in its labs early on. Not long after, Sentara RMH also

began providing some limited in-house COVID-19 testing.

Personal protective equipment (PPE) and other supplies have been managed carefully during the COVID-19 crisis. Although there was a nationwide shortage of PPE, especially in the first weeks of the pandemic, Sentara hospitals were able to meet staff needs through conservation, sanitization and reuse programs, as well as thanks to the many generous donations from providers and others in the community.

After the U.S. Surgeon General recommended postponement of all elective surgeries and other procedures—to protect patients and staff, and to help preserve precious PPE—Sentara RMH quickly complied.

Following directives of the CDC, the VDH, Sentara Healthcare and Virginia Governor Ralph Northam, Sentara RMH also began restricting visitation in the hospital, with only a few exceptions.

In addition, many Sentara RMH office staff team members began working from home, and nearly all meetings since have taken place by conference or video calls.

Keeping Spirits Up Open and frequent communication has been a key factor in the hospital’s successful response to COVID-19. For the first two months, Chief Nurse Executive Donna Hahn and Vice President of Medical Affairs Anthony Bruno, MD, sent daily emails to all staff to provide the latest information about a multitude of topics—including facts about the virus and how to treat patients; tips on how to protect the public, patients and staff from getting COVID; and updated policies and procedures. Similar communications also came several times a week from the Sentara corporate incident-command team in Hampton Roads.

Many of these messages contained words of encouragement and pointers on how to cope with the stress of the pandemic. Hospital chaplains have put their expertise to work as well, stepping up to address the emotional and spiritual needs of both staff and patients. A great sense of urgency—and the recognition that “we are all in this together, and together we will get through it”— have helped Sentara RMH staff members handle the immense anxieties of their work.

As Hahn, Dr. Bruno and others have reminded staff on multiple occasions: “We are in a marathon, not a sprint.”

Even as the urgency that accompanied the early weeks of the pandemic has lessened and society reopens incrementally, the Sentara RMH team remains vigilant, continuing to hone plans for handling any future spikes in numbers of COVID patients, and providing compassionate and effective care to patients and their families. sentara.com

|

9

VIRTUAL Connecting VISITS: with Patients s COVID-19 began to show up in Harrisonburg and surrounding counties earlier this year, the Sentara Medical Group responded by shifting most outpatient clinic visits to an online platform. During these “virtual visits,” which were implemented to reduce the risk of spreading the virus among patients and staff, and to conserve the limited supply of available personal protective equipment, patients can receive the care they need from the convenience and comfort of home. Instead of traveling to the doctor’s office and sitting in a waiting room prior to an appointment, the patient simply checks in online at the designated appointment time and connects to the healthcare provider remotely.

Although the Medical Group had been offering some virtual visits before the pandemic began, the number of virtual visits skyrocketed when the government issued coronavirus-related social distancing and stay-at-home policies. In fact, during the early weeks of the pandemic, about 85% of all Medical Group appointments were taking place virtually.

“The virtual visits worked very well, and patients really seemed to like the experience,” says Edward Sandy, MD, executive director for specialty services and provider solutions for the Blue Ridge territory of the Sentara Medical Group. “Of course, some patients still needed to be seen in face-to-face visits with their care provider, and we arranged for those to take place in a safe environment.”

Virtual visits were taking place in both primary care and specialty practices, according to Dr. Sandy. Most virtual visits occur via the Sentara app, which patients can download to a computer, tablet or smartphone. The app enables patients to check in with their provider, wait in a “virtual waiting room,” and connect by video and audio linkup. Once connected, a nurse or other medical provider will gather some information before

10 |

SUMMER 2020

Online

Some families, like the one pictured here, stood outside patient rooms while they connected to their loved ones by cell phone or tablet.

the patient speaks with the doctor.

During the virtual visit, providers can take a patient’s medical history, examine the patient visually (if the patient has video capability), provide medical advice and, if appropriate, prescribe medications or offer other treatment recommendations.

“Virtual visits provided us with a great solution for patient appointments when we were in the early stages of the pandemic,” says Dr. Sandy. “Now we understand the virus better, and our supply of PPE has greatly improved. We have gradually reopened our medical practices to offer more in-person appointments, and are strictly following safety protocols. Virtual visits have become less frequent, but they will continue to be a valuable option, when appropriate, for some patients.”

Virtual Family Hospital Visits Ordinarily, when a patient goes to the hospital, family members and friends are free to come along. If the patient is admitted as an inpatient, family and friends also are typically allowed to visit with the patient—and in fact often play an important role in a hospitalized patient’s care, helping caregivers get to know their patients better and speaking for patients when they cannot speak for themselves. During the COVID-19 pandemic, however, hospital visitation has been challenging.

During those weeks when the hospital severely limited visitors to help prevent the further spread of COVID-19, Sentara RMH nurses, the hospital chaplains and other staff members became very resourceful at finding ways to link patients digitally with family

If you need to make an appointment with your Sentara Medical Group provider, please call your provider’s office and discuss whether an inperson or virtual visit would be more appropriate. Office staff will be happy to answer your questions and determine the best course of care to keep you safe.

members and friends. Using funding provided by the RMH Foundation, Sentara RMH purchased a number of Samsung tablets that nurses and chaplains could use, along with the Google Duo app, to set up virtual video visits for patients.

“As a palliative care chaplain and an end-of-life doula (helper), the visitation restrictions relating to COVID went against everything I most value about patient and family care,” says Sentara RMH chaplain Rene Hostetter, who spent many days helping patients and families make these virtual connections. “The most difficult phone calls were with family members, listening to their pain due to feeling disconnected and isolated from their loved ones. As I would set up video calls with patients and their families, I watched their faces become filled with joy and gratitude when they could see each other.”

For several weekends, Sentara RMH chaplains provided extra in-house coverage. “They were specifically focused on setting up video visits for patients,” says Robin Martin, MDiv, BCC, manager of Sentara RMH chaplain services.

Patients who had smartphones were able to connect with their loved ones by that means, often with the assistance of the nurses and chaplains.

“Compassion lies at the core of nursing care,” says Lesley Cook, MSN, RN, NE-BC, director of nursing excellence for Sentara RMH. “It was very difficult for our nurses and other caregivers to see patients who were suffering—not only from a physical condition, but also from the loneliness and isolation brought on by the pandemic. Nursing staff used their personal cell phones to help connect patients with their families and, using the hospital’s Acts of Kindness Program, purchased small gifts from the gift shop to help brighten the day for many of our patients. All of our staff really stepped up, often going above and beyond the normal call of duty, to be flexible and innovative in caring for our patients and community.” sentara.com

|

11

A Generous Community

Reaches Out

Gifts Have Been Flowing to Sentara RMH During the Pandemic Since the onset of COVID-19 in our community, the Sentara RMH main entrance has been a busy place. Individuals, groups and businesses from the local area have been stopping by to bring their generous gifts—both in-kind and monetary— and to offer their moral support.

This influx of kindness in response to the pandemic began in late March, when Travis and Corri Loan, owners of Tropical Smoothie Café, made the first such in-kind donation: 650

12 |

SUMMER 2020

smoothies to be delivered to hospital employees.

Fortunately, the Loans had called ahead, so when they arrived at the front door, Janet Wendelken, senior development officer of the RMH Foundation, was waiting for them with a cart. She then delivered the smoothies to the various hospital departments.

“Our team members certainly enjoyed the cold treat,” Wendelken recalls.

Since then, Sentara RMH has received so many donations that on some days, Wendelken and Cory Davies, executive

director of the RMH Foundation, have a hard time keeping up with it all.

“I’ve never been so overwhelmed by people’s generosity,” Davies says. “As a fundraiser, I’m so used to having to build a case for needing support, and then reaching out and asking for people to respond to that appeal.”

But this was different.

“People just come forth and give us things,” Wendelken says.

On one notable day, Domino’s donated 2,000 slices of pizza, some of which was distributed to hospital workers via two “socially distant” lines.

At one point, Wendelken says, everyone in the lines broke out singing “Amazing Grace.”

In addition to the smoothies and pizza, other food donations to Sentara RMH healthcare workers have included (but are not limited to): • 500 boxed lunches donated by Richard Macher of Macado’s and picked up by representatives from Sentara off-site locations • Girl Scout cookies donated

by Girl Scout Troops 368 and 89 and their buyers • Snack boxes for the night shifts of nurses on several floors, provided by a Mill Creek Church of the Brethren Sunday School class

there were 3D printers churning around the clock and people up at all hours of the night trying to help us.”

In another local PPE-fabricating effort, several disparate groups came together to make medical-grade H-600 face masks for the hospital, using a sewing pattern developed by the University of Florida that employs sterile material already found in most hospitals. These masks are much more effective at preventing the spread of COVID-19 than homemade masks.

Kevin Phaup, JMU professor of industrial design, enlisted several of his students to fabricate the masks. The hospital also connected with a number of Mennonite sewing circles.

“Because of the technical specifications, the H-600s require a little more quality assurance than someone with at-home sewing skills might have,” Davies says. “As a result of that collaborative effort, approximately 800 of those masks were made

• Pizza for the entire Hahn Cancer Center staff, the Emergency Department staff and several other departments, paid for and donated by the Valley Muslim Community Foundation

PPE Appreciated In addition to the very generous amount of food that has been donated, the hospital also has received a sizable amount of personal protective equipment (PPE), including face masks, face shields, gloves and safety

glasses. Face shields were a key type of PPE the hospital needed to obtain locally, due to shortages elsewhere.

“We weren’t able to purchase face shields through our normal supply chain,” Davies recalls. So a James Madison University (JMU) engineering class and several area businesses fired up their 3D printers to print them.

“When you put it all together, we ended up with more than 1,500 face shields,” Davies notes.

“That happened in a matter of just 10 days, so you can imagine w w w.S uppor tRMH.org

|

13

to help protect our patients and team members.”

Other PPE gifts have been provided by these generous donors: • Elks Lodge #450 (with Allen Baker) donated 432 pairs of safety glasses • Harbor Freight donated supplies, gloves and masks • Home Depot gave trash bags and safety glasses • Silverback Distillery of Afton donated 10 gallons of hand sanitizer

Strong Shows of Support Most touching may be the more relational types of support shown by the community,

Harman Realty Donates Sleep Inn Rooms

14 |

SUMMER 2020

including the encouraging signs posted around the hospital, as well as the uplifting messages and social media posts intended to thank Sentara RMH staff.

Sometimes, individuals and groups have shown up at the hospital just to pray for workers and patients. Church group members also have driven to the hospital parking lot on Sundays to pray for the staff and patients from their cars.

Local first responders have formed at least two convoys at the hospital to demonstrate their support, Wendelken says. Fire, rescue and police personnel—along with the Harrisonburg mayor and other city officials—have driven around the campus ring road, stopping at various hospital entrances to applaud the workers. And some hospital staff have, in kind, gone out to hold signs thanking those in the convoys for their warm gesture.

“The gratitude goes both ways,” Wendelken says.

Another “protective” gift donated to the staff of Sentara RMH during the pandemic comes from the Harman family, which owns Harman Realty and Sleep Inn on University Boulevard in Harrisonburg. To help keep everyone safe, the Harmans have offered free hotel stays to all healthcare workers during the crisis.

“That’s been a huge help to Sentara RMH employees who can’t immediately go back home after working a shift,” Davies says.

Some of the nurses in the Emergency Department (ED) and the COVID unit have been staying at the Sleep Inn to protect their families, while others have used the hotel to shower and change clothes before going home.

Wendelken has asked donors to document their gifts to keep a record of all that has been given.

She hopes someday to have the opportunity to write thank-you cards to each one.

Davies has been amazed at the huge spike in monetary donations.

“We have people who have never before donated to the hospital now giving very generously,” he says. “I have never experienced such a broad outpouring of support in my 12 years at Sentara RMH, and we are very grateful to our wonderful community.”

A nurse who lives in West Virginia moved into the hotel so she could be closer to work.

About 40 healthcare workers—most of them Sentara RMH staff members—have been staying at the Sleep Inn, according to Randy Harman. The value of the stays provided by the Sleep Inn is an estimated $230,000. Several of these dedicated healthcare workers have lived apart from their families for up to two months.

“Working under a tremendous amount of stress and then leaving the hospital for an empty hotel room has been heartbreaking at times for these staff members,” says Kimberly Teter, BSN, RN, team coordinator in the ED. “Nevertheless, they’ve had a sense of peace, knowing they weren’t taking the chance of spreading COVID-19 to their families.”

A GREAT

A

Escape

s a patient advocate at Sentara RMH Medical Center, Lorrie Koontz knows the value of helping her patients keep from thinking too much about what ails them. During the recent height of the COVID-19 pandemic, however, options for such diversions were limited.

Due to the implementation of new policies restricting visitation, Koontz recognized that some major pieces were missing from the routines that normally help patients get through recovery— especially for the elderly.

“When families aren’t able to visit with patients, it can be scary and lonely for the patient,” she says. “Part of the recovery and healing process is mental and psychological. Time drags.

The troubling thoughts of hospitalization can consume the mind. The encouragers are missing. The listeners. These people are important.”

The last few months have been a crisis in so many ways. Yet through the thick of trying times at the hospital, the RMH Foundation and surrounding community have answered the call.

As a direct response to the challenges presented by the pandemic, the RMH Foundation created a new crisis response fund, giving employees like Koontz an opportunity to fill in gaps and help meet patients’ needs, according to Cory Davies, executive director.

“Caregivers on the front lines were coming to the RMH Foundation with innovative ways to help better serve our patients, and we needed resources to put those ideas into motion,” he explains. “As donors in the community started reaching out to us to ask how they could help, we created the crisis response fund to enable them to make a meaningful impact in our community’s response to the coronavirus. The crisis fund is an easy way for donors to make a significant difference in our patients’ lives.”

Making a Connection

By the end of May, the new fund was already supporting several projects, including the purchase of 38 Samsung tablets for inpatient nursing units, the palliative

Newly Created Crisis Fund Opens Doors to Recovery During Pandemic care team, the chaplains and the patient experience team, on which Koontz serves.

“Many patients—especially those who are elderly—have been very isolated during the pandemic, and particularly during those weeks when we weren’t able to allow visitors into the hospital,” Davies says. “These same patients don’t have access to technology that would enable them to connect virtually with loved ones.”

Koontz says the tablets have made an immediate difference for patients, as she and other teammates have been able to connect family members who otherwise would not have had the opportunity.

Patient advocates Lorrie Koontz, left, and Natalie Rinaca

w w w.S uppor tRMH.org

|

15

“COVID-19 has created an environment in which we have had to sacrifice personal connection to family, friends and religious leaders in the interest of safety. It’s unprecedented and heartbreaking,” she notes. “It’s amazing how much nonverbal information we pick up on when we’re able to connect visually with another person, and what a difference that makes in the well-being of patients. By helping patients stay connected to their families, you can practically see the positive effects it has on their health and outlook.”

The most heartwarming story, Koontz says, involved a husband and wife of 44 years who had been struggling emotionally while the wife was hospitalized for more than a week. Koontz suggested using a tablet to connect them, but the husband didn’t have a smartphone and was unable to take part in a video chat.

Natalie Rinaca, Koontz’s patient advocate teammate, stepped in to be by the wife’s side while Koontz drove to Timberville to meet the husband. Taking necessary safety precautions, she handed

the husband a smartphone to connect to his wife.

“They were so happy! I can’t even put it into words!” Koontz says. “They flirted. They canoodled. They connected. They were both better. They were comforted. There were happy tears and relief.”

A Fund for the Future

Among other projects, Davies says the fund also helped establish a new collaboration with James Madison University and other community members that focuses on hand-sewing surgicalgrade face masks. He says the partners are using an innovative process developed out of the University of Florida, in which sterile material—which Sentara RMH already had on hand—is repurposed to make masks.

Donations to the crisis response fund can help offset the cost of the other materials needed to fabricate this critical equipment, Davies says.

“As our community faces this extraordinary health challenge, our courageous

Sentara RMH caregivers go in every day to be there for us and for the people we care about,” he adds. “The RMH Foundation has set up this special fund to provide the unexpected extras our caregivers and patients need right now.”

It’s important to note that efforts will continue to raise money proactively for the crisis response fund. Davies says the Foundation is mindful that not all the potential uses of these funds have been identified, and COVID-19 is not the only crisis for which the hospital needs to prepare.

At least in terms of the crisis for which it was created, the fund is opening doors for patients, in times when it can feel as if there’s little chance for connection.

“Donating to the crisis response fund helps us ensure that patient families, far and wide, can be connected virtually with the patients they love,” Koontz says. “To lift their spirits and help them heal.”

To contribute to the crisis response fund, please visit www.SupportRMH.org.

Donated Masks, Gowns Benefit Community’s Response The RMH Foundation relies on the generosity of the community to support the mission of Sentara RMH Medical Center.

The favor is also returned.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Foundation Executive Director Cory Davies, the RMH Foundation stepped up to provide 400 N95 masks and 200 procedural masks to the Harrisonburg Rescue Squad, an all-volunteer organization serving the city. The Foundation also donated 50 disposable gowns to Sunnyside Communities, a group of three retirement communities, including one near Sentara RMH in Rockingham County.

16 |

SUMMER 2020

“Anytime you are dealing with isolation situations, having disposable gowns and other personal protective equipment on hand is essential,” says Karen Wigginton, chief marketing officer at Sunnyside Communities. “The RMH Foundation assisted us in ensuring that we had a continuing supply of high-quality disposable gowns. We are grateful to have such a great community partnership.”

The items for the rescue squad and retirement community came from donations made directly to the hospital.

To learn more about how you can contribute, contact the RMH Foundation at 540-689-8545.

S E N TA R A R M H M E D I C A L C E N T E R

2010

2013

2020

10 YEAR CAMPUS ANNIVERSARY On June 22, 2010, Rockingham Memorial Hospital made a historic move: relocating from its downtown facility to the new, state-of-the-art health campus on the outskirts of the City limits. And what a decade it’s been: 2010 | NEW HOSPITAL OPENS 2010 | CARDIAC ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY PROGRAM LAUNCHES 2011 | MERGER WITH SENTARA HEALTHCARE 2013 | SENTARA RMH FUNKHOUSER WOMEN’S CENTER OPENS 2014 | SENTARA WOUND HEALING CENTER OPENS 2015 | SENTARA RMH ORTHOPEDIC CENTER OPENS 2016 | STRUCTURAL HEART PROGRAM BEGINS

YEARS CAMPUS ANNIVERSARY 2010-2020

While our facility is only ten years old, Sentara RMH Medical Center has been proudly serving our community since 1912. Our team is grateful for the remarkable and generous community we serve, and we look forward to caring for you for many years to come.

For more information, visit sentara.com.

Follow us on Facebook and Twitter, @Sentara.com.

NON-PROFIT U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 19 BURLINGTON, VT

Sentara RMH Medical Center 2010 Health Campus Drive Harrisonburg, Virginia 22801 Sentara.com Change service requested

98.6°

You’re Safe at Sentara

Screening Everyone Who Enters Our Facilities

Masking Everyone Who Enters Our Facilities

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for All Clinicians & Staff

Ongoing, Robust Cleaning for Infection Prevention

Virtual Care Appointments When Appropriate

Ensuring Social Distancing

Limiting Visitors

COVID-19 Testing Before Some Tests & Procedures

In times of uncertainty, trust that Sentara is here to keep our community safe. We are following strict guidelines and have implemented extra safety measures to ensure you are safe while receiving the care you need. When it comes to your health, don’t wait to seek care.

You’re safe at Sentara.

To learn more about the precautions Sentara is taking to keep you safe, visit sentara.com/safe.