May 6, 2022

COVID-19 update

This week, we are seeing gradual growth of our symptomatic positivity rate, with our seven-day rolling average at 7.15%, up from 2.43% on April 18. As of Friday morning, we have seven COVID-positive patients, four of whom remain infectious.

Sewer shed data indicates BA.2 is present in all 44 communities tested and BA.2.12.1 is present in 12 of the 32 communities tested, including the Springfield area.

In national and international trends over the last two weeks, we have seen COVID-19 cases rise by 49% in the United States, 271% in Puerto Rico and 173% in South Africa. Puerto Rico has also had hospitalizations rise by 120%. While BA.4 and BA.5 are demonstrating immune escape from previous omicron infection, vaccines continue to protect against severe disease.

We are thankful our hospitalizations remain low and we will continue to be prepared.

Celebrating Hospital Week

Next week is Hospital Week, a time when we recognize all of our team members for everything they do for our patients and our community.

As we kick off the celebrations, we will open a time capsule buried at Cox South in a special ceremony for employees. The event will be held at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, May 10, in Foster Auditorium. In 1995, we commemorated the 10th anniversary of Cox South by burying a time capsule in the West Pavilion lobby, to be opened in 25 years. While COVID-19 kept us from opening it in 2020, we are glad to be able to unveil its contents as part of this year’s Hospital Week.

Supporting staff with an expanded Burrell partnership

We are actively working to support our caregivers’ well-being and this week we announced an expanded partnership with Burrell Behavioral Health.

Burrell’s Be Well program will provide webinar sessions and wellness challenges that will help all of our colleagues focus on well-being and mental health. The expansion is just one step in our larger plan to continue growing our resources for staff well-being. I am grateful for this partnership and for the leadership of Heather Hardinger, who has stepped up to coordinate our employee well-being strategy.

New Breast Cancer Foundation of the Ozarks program

This week, the Breast Cancer Foundation of the Ozarks (BCFO) announced a new program that will cover the costs of diagnostic mammograms, ultrasounds and biopsies for people under 35 who are uninsured or underinsured. The program, known as U-35, is a pilot partnership between BCFO, CoxHealth and Mercy Springfield. It was developed with key support from Susan Smith, director of our Breast Care Clinic team. I am thankful for the efforts to meet a growing need and close a gap for uninsured patients.

Voice of the patient

From patient feedback at Cox Springfield: “Everyone was fantastic! I felt taken care of and cared about.”

Thank you for all you do,
Steve

Direct Line from Steve Edwards 5/6/22