Direct Line from Max Buetow for 10/14/22

Oct. 14, 2022

COVID-19 update: Masking in health care

The most popular question we are hearing right now, both from our teams and the community, is: When will we be able to get rid of masks?

Like many seemingly simple questions, the answer is much more complicated than it appears. We fully understand that people are sick of masks, and we know that most of daily life is now unmasked.

We are also aware that our considerations in health care are much different than those in the community at large. We are taking care of people who are immunocompromised. They are in a vulnerable position, and they are trusting us to take care of their health needs.

While we are all looking forward to a future without masks, we are staying the course, both to keep our patients safe, and to meet regulatory requirements.

I wanted to take time this week to talk with Dr. Shawn Usery, our chief medical officer, to explain why we are still masking at CoxHealth.

The CDC recently updated their recommendations, and under the new guidance, health care facilities may do away with masking if the facility is in an area that is not at a “high” level of community transmission.

Right now, that doesn’t change anything for CoxHealth, Dr. Usery says.

“Currently, all four counties where our hospitals are located have high transmission of COVID-19,” he says. “In the future, if we are able to reach transmission levels lower than the ‘high’ category, we would evaluate scaling back our masking requirement.”

Dr. Usery also notes that masking is a requirement from regulatory agencies. OSHA and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services are following CDC guidelines, and both agencies continue to require masking in health care when community transmission is high.

Those factors combined essentially mandate masking within CoxHealth facilities for now.

Dr. Usery points out that we are not alone in this approach. Currently, about half of hospitals in the U.S. are in the same position as CoxHealth, operating in communities with a high level of transmission.

I have been in contact with my counterparts in health systems and across the state and our partners are staying the same course with masking, for the same reasons.

As we head into cold and flu season, and as we see concerning COVID-19 trends in Europe and the Southern Hemisphere, it is wise to remain cautious to ensure that we are protecting our patients and our staff.

“We are closely monitoring the situation, and we will update our guidance based on available data and recommendations from the CDC,” Dr. Usery says. We continue to watch the COVID-19 transmission rate in the communities we serve, and that rate will guide us as we decide to reduce or ramp up our approach.

“We are optimistic about the most recent recommendations and what they signify for the future. We now have a plan in place that would allow us to consider scaling back masking in clinical areas, when we reach the lower levels of community transmission outlined by the CDC.”

We are all looking forward to a time when lower COVID-19 rates will allow us more flexibility in the way we deploy preventive tools like masking — on an as-needed basis, rather than as a blanket strategy.

We will continue to communicate and explain the decisions we are making as we navigate a dynamic respiratory illness season.

Our first priority is to protect our patients and staff. We are asking all of you to partner with us in continuing to do the right thing, both for our health system and for our community.

We’re a regional system with strong local ties

I was recently reminded of how no matter how large CoxHealth becomes across the region, our work ultimately is local. I was able to attend a football game in Lamar last Friday night — for a rivalry game between Lamar and Nevada — and it was so much fun to be immersed in that cultural experience alongside fans.

All of the positive things you think about small-town America were on display in that game. From the sportsmanship and the talent on the field to the community support for the team and the connections in the crowd, it was an experience to remember.

My four kids and I were in the center of the stands, surrounded by Lamar community members, and we felt like we were part of the family. I saw Dr. Jeremy Sturgell and Cox Barton County President Chris Wyatt in those stands, as the faces of CoxHealth that the community knows best. We are one entity, but no matter where we are, we are local. Patients are cared for by local people, who have created deep connections to the community.

We care for each other in a variety of ways, whether we are in our hospitals or in the community cheering on the football team. I am proud to be part of an organization that balances our regional strength with local identity. That is one of the many things that makes CoxHealth special.

Nursing Open Houses: making CoxHealth a place to grow a career

Throughout the year, we host Nursing Open Houses, open to anyone interested in learning about a career in nursing at CoxHealth. This year, we are excited to have 83 nursing students accept positions as Graduate Nurse Residents to further their nursing leadership roles.

Through the open houses, we are able to show our appreciation to our current and future nurses with insight into various programs, a snack and CoxHealth giveaways. Current and future staff members have the chance to learn about job opportunities and nursing benefits.

We are committed to providing tools for our colleagues to grow careers at CoxHealth, and I am excited to continue this mission.

If you know someone interested in nursing, they can join us at Cox South from 4-6 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 18, in the West Tower Lobby. Come see the energy and culture that make CoxHealth a great place to work!

Keeping our staff and patients safe through training

A few months ago in Direct Line, I had the opportunity to highlight the expertise of Alan Butler, CoxHealth’s system director of Public Safety and Security. Alan says CoxHealth is ahead of most health systems in terms of preparedness. We continue to invest in our Public Safety and Security teams and ongoing training for all of our staff.

This week, we launched our active shooter training for our staff members.

This training is another step in our overall security approach, which is based on three foundational blocks: Officer presence, integrated security systems, and trained hospital staff.

By making this training available to all, with extended training for high-risk areas, we will make sure all staff are security aware and doing our part.

I am grateful to Alan and his team for keeping us ahead of the curve, training our staff and ensuring that CoxHealth is a safe place to practice and receive care.

Voice of the Patient

Adapted from inpatient feedback from Cox South Cardiovascular ICU: “I want to thank each of you, no matter your role. You provide quality care, kindness and empathy. We experienced an extra special care team that makes the true effort to put themselves in their patients’ shoes. We are truly grateful.”

Thank you for all you do,

Max