Feb. 25, 2022

COVID-19 update

Our COVID-positive inpatient numbers continue to be encouraging, with a total of 76 patients this morning. Symptomatic positivity rates dropped into the single digits, just below 9% this week. The numbers make it clear we are in a good place right now with dramatically reduced disease spread. During Omicron, CoxHealth recorded 896 positive COVID-19 test results in a single day. Earlier this week, we saw a single-day total of only 21.

While the pandemic is not over and we continue to be cautious, we are grateful for the easing. It is good news for our staff and our community.

We are encouraging everyone to take advantage of reduced cases by seeking out any medical care they may have been putting off during the surge. For anyone who has been delaying checkups, routine screenings or any medical concerns, now is a perfect time to make an appointment.

Relaxing some policies, while remaining cautious

With the reduced disease spread, we are now able to modify some of our more restrictive policies. On Tuesday, our Incident Command team made a number of changes, including: allowing students and job shadowing; opening meeting rooms; relaunching community education programs and bringing our volunteers back into many areas. We will continue universal masking on our campuses to protect the patients we serve.

We realize some organizations have been much more liberal in easing protective policies, however we are guided by our values, the first of which is safety. Our practices will generally feel more conservative and cautious than others. As we modify policies, we do so knowing that there is a serious possibility that disease spread could rise. In that event, we will re-evaluate policies, again focused on safety first.

Supporting staff mental health

We are grateful for a pilot project with Burrell Behavioral Health that offers interactive online “Be Well” events for our teams. One of the exercises in a recent session asked staff how they felt during the Omicron surge. Words like “overwhelmed,” “burnout,” “fatigue” and “exhaustion” filled the screen. Health care workers are weary and they deserve our love and support. They need us more than ever.

More “Be Well” sessions are in the works and we are thankful to be able to partner with Burrell to support the wellbeing of our teams.

Lighting our tower in tribute to the people of Ukraine

Tonight, the tower at Cox South will be illuminated in blue and yellow, the colors of the Ukrainian flag, in tribute to the people of Ukraine. We send out special thoughts and prayers to the health care workers who are serving in this war.

Recognizing Black History Month

February is Black History Month and we are sharing key resources with staff in our internal publications. The national theme for 2022 is “Black Health and Wellness.”

I am proud we are continuing to expand our diversity, equity and inclusion efforts under the leadership of Heather Hardinger, our first Chief Diversity Officer.

As a health care organization committed to diversity, equity and inclusion, CoxHealth honors the contributions of African Americans in the realm of health care, and recognizes the connection between health, wellness, equality, and inclusion.

Voice of the patient

From patient feedback at the Cox South Emergency Department: “The staff were kind and professional. I got in quickly and was treated great!”

Thank you for all you do,
Steve

Direct Line from Steve Edwards: 2/25/22