May 27, 2020
A Better City members are stepping up during these uncertain times and leading efforts in preserving community health with their responses to COVID-19. Their actions reduce community exposure, increase awareness, and assist the Commonwealth’s most vulnerable residents. This week’s spotlight focuses on the work of hospitals in the A Better City Community. Not only are these institutions working tirelessly to treat those who are COVID-positive, but also find new ways to safely deliver medical care to patients in the midst of the pandemic.
PUTTING COMMUNITY FIRST
Our members in the healthcare sector are on the frontline of COVID-19 response efforts. Their essential workforce puts community first, prioritizing treatment to COVID-positive patients, development of treatments or vaccines for the virus, and care for non-COVID-19 patients.
In combination with these measures to support employees and patients, hospitals have improved communication with the public with extensive resources on COVID-19 and any associated impacts.
There are multiple research efforts going on to better understand the virus that causes COVID-19 and find an effective treatment or vaccine for the disease across our members.
ADAPTING SERVICES TO SUPPORT PATIENT NEEDS DURING COVID-19
Patient care and health is the central goal of our member hospitals and they are working diligently through the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure that the proper measures are in place to ensure that patients being cared for in facilities and patients that must seek urgent care are not put at risk of contracting the virus.
In order to not overburden the medical system in the midst of the pandemic, different member hospitals have taken measures to reduce the number of patients visiting facilities for non-emergency appointments or procedures.
PLANS FOR REOPENING
Under Governor Baker’s plan for reopening the state, there are clear instructions that hospitals and community health centers can resume limited in-person care beginning on May 18, with other healthcare facilities following on 5/25 if they have adequate private PPE stocks and are not reliant on the state’s stock and have proper screening protocols for employees and patients. Hospitals and other healthcare facilities must also have a minimum of 25% of ICU and the total bed capacity to reopen pediatric ICUs as they reopen.
BIDMC has announced that they will resume non-urgent or elective appointments and procedures on May 23, maintaining pandemic policies including their hospital-wide mask policy and baring individuals that have cold or flu-like symptoms, have traveled to a high-risk area within 14 days, or come in direct contact with a COVID-positive person within 14 days.
Because of our member hospitals’ unique role fighting on the frontlines in face of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is essential they take the proper actions to inform and protect the public, especially vulnerable populations, from COVID-19 while also keeping current patients safe as they pursue treatment for various illnesses. BIDMC and Partners HealthCare have assisted in building emergency facilities to treat COVID-19 patients in light of an increased number of patients. Boston Children’s Hospital, Partners HealthCare, and Dana Farber Cancer Institute are all conducting research to aid in the search for a vaccine or cure for COVID-19. All member hospitals have supported telehealth and delayed non-emergent care to protect more people from being exposed due to the pandemic. As the state progresses towards reopening, hospitals will have to resume normal activities while balancing not fueling a second wave of cases.
1 https://www.partners.org/COVID-19/COVID-19-Information.aspx#Strategy
3 https://www.bmc.org/covid19relief
4.https://www.childrenshospital.org/conditions-and-treatments/conditions/c/coronavirus/research
6 https://www.partners.org/COVID-19/Patients/What-Should-Patients-Do.aspx#mask
7 https://www.dana-farber.org/covid-19-facts-and-resources/covid-19-information-for-our-patients/
8 https://www.bidmc.org/disclaimer-pages/covid-19-update
9 https://www.bmc.org/covid-19#visitorpolicy
10 https://www.dana-farber.org/covid-19-facts-and-resources/covid-19-information-for-our-patients/
11 https://www.childrenshospital.org/conditions-and-treatments/conditions/c/coronavirus/visitors
12 https://www.partners.org/COVID-19/Visitor-Policy.aspx#English
13 https://www.partners.org/COVID-19/Patients/What-Should-Patients-Do.aspx#appointments
14 https://www.bidmc.org/disclaimer-pages/covid-19-update