January 25, 2021
Hi Team –
As we begin this last week of January, there is growing evidence that the third wave of COVID infections and hospitalizations, which flattened in December and January throughout our region, is now beginning to decline (see sidebar and graphic below to review latest stats and regional trends). It is also increasingly clear that, thankfully, we have been spared the predicted post-holiday surge. And just as encouraging, last week, Dr. Anthony Fauci reported that early evidence shows that new cases across the U.S. are also starting to flatten. With millions of Americans now already recovered from COVID and millions more getting vaccinated in the coming months, we are on our way to developing the herd immunity necessary to bring us out of these dark times and back to living life to the fullest!
Vaccine Update
And speaking of vaccines, we are two weeks into the second phase of our community vaccination rollout program, which now includes patient and community vaccinations, starting with the most vulnerable populations over the age of 75. This follows the first phase of vaccinations which focused on healthcare professionals and those living in nursing homes and long-term care facilities. As I shared last week, this process is being challenged by an extremely limited vaccine supply that, at this time, is unable to meet current demand. During a recent conference call with Governor DeWine, he cautioned healthcare leaders that the state’s vaccine allocation – which is controlled by the federal government – will likely not increase until February or March when Johnson & Johnson’s single dose vaccine is expected to receive FDA emergency use authorization. It is important to point out, however, that second doses required for the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines are being reserved for those team members and physicians who have started the vaccination process. In fact, second doses are now being administered to thousands of our team members who will be completing their vaccination process in the coming weeks. To date, we have administered more than 7,500 first doses to team members and physicians – immunizing between 60 to 65% of our workforce. We have also, thus far, administered 2,008 first doses to patients and community members over the age of 80 through phase two of our vaccination rollout process. And despite limited supply of the vaccine, TriHealth is receiving many compliments from patients and community members about the exceptional quality of our vaccine outreach and communications, our “live” operators and call center, and the efficient patient-centered way we are approaching our vaccination center operations – all thanks to YOU, our amazing TriHealth Team!! Here are just a few recent accolades...
“My mom called to let me know how thrilled my parents who are in their 80s were with the friendliness and professionalism extended to them by everyone involved with the vaccination process at TriHealth. It made me feel proud to be a part of the TriHealth team!”
– Suzanne Hudson, PT
Good Samaritan Glenway Physical Therapy Department
“I have been working the call center to schedule vaccines for the past few weeks. This week a retired TriHealth RN with over 30 years of service asked me to let our CEO know just how PROUD she is of TriHealth for all they have done, including setting up this call center. Many of her friends do not have computer access and to have the reassuring voice of someone on the other end means the world to her and them. SO many patients have voiced similar praise for the organization... It "filled my cup" and validated just how much this service means to our community!”
– Kelly Weatherly, Director, TriHealth Benefits and HR Service Center
“Yesterday I went to your TriHealth offices at Norwood after completing my pre-registration the day before to receive my first COVID vaccine shot. I was so impressed with how I had been treated after entering the building that I continued to just sit and watch all that was going on around me. It was so obvious that every staff member was excited and enjoying what they were doing and nurses couldn’t wait for the next person to serve. Everyone I talked with was so friendly and chatty and ready to help in any way possible to ensure all went according to plan. Watching new individuals being brought into the nurses’ area, it was neat to see how each was treated and made comfortable. A job well done – Congratulations!! I can’t wait to go back for my second shot!”
– 81-year-old TriHealth patient
The fact that we are receiving such high praise during a time of growing frustration across the nation about how the vaccination process is being handled makes this feedback all the more meaningful! Once again, our TriHealth Team is leading the way to get healthcare right, and I could not be more proud or grateful for your hard work and dedication to our community – THANK YOU!!
Major New Investment in TriHealth’s High-Performing Network
I am thrilled to share that our plans for the TriHealth Heart Hospital on the Bethesda North Campus are moving into high gear, thanks to another extraordinary gift from Harold and Eugenia Thomas! Harold and Eugenia have once again generously pledged another $10 million to help ensure that the TriHealth Heart Hospital fulfills its promise to become our community’s preferred destination for world-class cardiac care and service. The Heart Hospital will house the largest, fastest-growing, and best-performing heart program in the region. The project will add another 40,000 square feet of best-in-class clinical space to the Bethesda North Campus and will modernize another 80,000 square feet of existing space! Our nationally acclaimed Bethesda North cardiac surgery care program has a “3-Star” rating – the highest quality rating from The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS). It is the only hospital in Cincinnati to achieve the STS 3-Star rating, and among just a handful of hospitals in Ohio to earn this prestigious distinction!
Groundbreaking is scheduled for February 25, 2021 and construction of the first phase is expected to take 18 months to complete, with an anticipated grand opening in the Summer of 2022. It’s worth noting that the Thomases made this unprecedented decision to invest a second $10 million in the TriHealth Heart Hospital largely based on how impressed they have been with the outcome of the Thomas Comprehensive Care Center and the transformational impact it’s had on patient care quality and access in our community. We remain deeply grateful to the Thomas family for their long-standing commitment to partner with TriHealth to improve the health of our community through their extraordinary gifts to TriHealth and the Bethesda North Campus! This level of philanthropic support is simply unparalleled in Cincinnati!
DEI Town Hall Recap
I hope you were able to join us last Tuesday for our third Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) virtual Town Hall. It was intended to be both informative and celebratory as we paid tribute to the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., introduced the DEI Team, and shared important updates and plans for our DEI work underway throughout TriHealth. If you were unable to attend, click here to view the video. We’ll continue the celebrations and education in February in recognition of Black History Month.
Thank you for your continued hard work and commitment to keep us TriHealth Strong throughout this historic and unprecedented journey! Because of your efforts and dedication, we can finally say that better, brighter days are just ahead for our team, our patients and our community!!