July 14, 2020
Hi Team –
Four months ago this week, in mid-March, states and other municipalities across the nation began to put in place shut down and stay-at-home measures in an effort to slow the growing spread and surge of COVID-19 in the U.S. By adhering to these swift and bold mitigation measures, by mid-May, we began to see encouraging signs that the spread of COVID-19 was flattening and confirmed cases were starting to plateau – allowing states across the nation to cautiously begin phased re-opening of the economy and local communities. Critical to the success of these phased re-opening efforts was our collective commitment to continue to strictly adhere to the simple, yet extremely effective, mitigation measures while at work and in public – wear masks, wash hands, socially distance, and avoid large gatherings!
Flash forward to today, and we’re now seeing the disheartening and dangerous consequence of what happens when people choose to disregard these essential practices. In more than 40 states, including Ohio, confirmed COVID-19 cases are spiking. In recent weeks, local health systems, including TriHealth, have seen the highest number of COVID-19-positive inpatients since the start of the pandemic! What’s most discouraging is that it is within our power to PREVENT this unsettling and potentially catastrophic trend with just a little extra effort!!
Masks & Mitigation Measures Remain a MUST to Stabilize Public & Economic Health. While we wait for a vaccine or cure, which may be months or even years away, community spread of COVID-19 and subsequent surges remain a real and dangerous threat. So, it continues to be critically important – if we want to keep our community safe and healthy and avoid future shutdowns and stay-at-home orders – to do our part by adhering to the mitigation measures at work and in public, including at social gatherings with friends and family. This is so essential that Governor DeWine has now mandated use of masks in 13 counties, including Hamilton and Butler.
At TriHealth, improving the health of our community has been our mission for more than 160 years and remains our top priority today. And all of us play a vital role in fulfilling this mission by ALWAYS wearing a mask, social distancing, and maintaining safe clinical spaces. In recent weeks, contact tracing has revealed instances of “community” spread within TriHealth during lunch and break times when team members are congregating too closely in break rooms and cafeterias without wearing masks. COVID-19 is a VERY contagious virus, so once again, I want to encourage you and all team members to please stay at least 6 feet apart during mealtimes and anytime when full masking is not possible. We’ve developed the following guidelines to help all of us remember to do our part to prevent avoidable spread among team members. Please review carefully and be sure to follow these guidelines at all times while at work and within TriHealth facilities. As a reminder, wearing masks is mandatory in patient care and common areas throughout TriHealth, without exception.
Our providers are also doing their part to help educate the community on the importance of wearing masks, as seen here and here in recent local news stories. Additionally, we’re supporting the Regional COVID-19 Communications Center’s (RC3) “Masks On” campaign, powered by the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber and the Health Collaborative. Together, local health systems and employers are joining forces to share this important message: “WHEN WE’RE OUT, MASKS ON!” – which will be promoted on radio, social media, and outdoor advertising throughout the coming weeks. And don’t forget, you can proudly lead the way by wearing a TriHealth-branded mask at work and in the community. Thousands are now being sent to team members who’ve already placed orders – to get yours, click here.
On a final safety note, please remember to complete the COVID-19 Self-Assessment module in LEARN by July 17. Completing this simple training is a required step as we make the transition with other area health systems from “Screening Stations” to “Self-Screening” for team members and physicians only.
Steady Progress Being Made as We Get “Back to Business.” Throughout this COVID-19 pandemic, we have been committed to full transparency and openly sharing with you all of the decisions we have made – and the reasons why – in order to help us all prepare for, and now recover from, this unprecedented public health and economic crisis TOGETHER. Implementation of our difficult, yet necessary, COVID-19 Financial Recovery Plan continues to go well, and we are on track to close the $150M shortfall created by the pandemic. Beginning next week we’ll share updates and highlights on our progress towards financial recovery, as well as provide a comprehensive list of impacted programs, departments and workstreams.
On a lighter and brighter note, I’m extremely pleased to share that on June 29, as part of TriHealth’s partnership with Cincinnati Children’s, we opened the multimillion-dollar expansion of the special delivery unit at Cincinnati Children’s Fetal Care Center! The new unit encompasses a total of 19,000 square feet and is staffed by TriHealth physicians, nurses, and clinical teams who provide comprehensive, world-class care for healthy moms expecting babies with known medical conditions.
In addition to two new operating rooms allowing for increased access to fetal surgery and C-section deliveries, the expansion at the hospital in Avondale includes a triage room and six dedicated rooms for labor, delivery, and postpartum recovery.
As we continue to adapt to the “new normal” of managing and co-existing with COVID-19, I want to thank you for all you are doing – at work and in our community – to help us bring public health and economic stability back to our region and nation. Through our collective and individual choices each day to do the right thing, we demonstrate what it means to be “TriHealth Strong” – One Team. One Sacred Mission. One Great Health System!
Back to Work Safety Resources
Maintaining physical distancing and mask protocols are crucial to staying healthy and stopping the spread of COVID-19 at work. The Managing Meetings with Physical Distance guidelines, available on the Back to Work Resources section on Bridge, are especially important when meeting with team members or community partners. Room availability for large meeting rooms is limited, and there may not be a room available to accommodate all requests.
COVID-19 Self-Screening Training
All team members and physicians must complete the mandatory online TriHealth Learn training, WBT20: COVID-19 Self-Assessment Screening, by Friday, July 17. Learn more on Bridge.
Always Safety Behaviors
To help team members remember to wear masks at all times, the SOAR Council has developed four new Always Behaviors and a Mask Guideline graphic. Visit the “Safety Signage” section here on Bridge to download and print these graphics for use in your practice or department.
Overall Rating: Comments:
How do we "order" the TriHealth masks? Some people said they got an email but many did not.
Posted by: Team Member on July 31, 2020
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Thank you for the masks. I love my Bethesda North mask and I just ordered 4 more TriHealth Masks for my family.
Posted by: Team Member on July 17, 2020
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WHY CANT WE ALL GET TESTED? I THINK YOU ARE MISSING A HUGE OPPORTUNITY TO PREVENT ANOTHER FLOOR CLOSURE.
Posted by: Dawn Hillman on July 15, 2020
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As we self Assess will various entrances reopen?
ie - 4th floor employee parking garage entrance
Posted by: Susan Hayes on July 15, 2020
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I disagree that "family gatherings" are the reason for the spread. There were so many other "events" going on nationwide.
Posted by: Joan Bauman on July 15, 2020
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I think TriHealth has done an excellent job at supporting employees throughout this Pandemic and also providing clinical areas with the proper PPE. Thank you!
Posted by: Sandi King on July 15, 2020
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We really appreciate you keeping us informed. thanks also for the encouragement to wear masks and protect each other and ourselves. So many people just don't understand that!
Posted by: Deborah Hazelwood on July 15, 2020
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