COVID-19 update

Our number of COVID-19 hospitalizations has increased this week. We hit 173 patients with COVID across the system today, a number which is at our high-water mark from last winter. Tragically, there have been 81 patients with COVID lost this month alone at CoxHealth.

Despite these numbers, we decided to pause our request for an alternate care site from the state. The need for care isn’t gone, but in the time it took between initial discussions and when a site would be finalized (no sooner than Aug. 6), we were compelled to find new ways to serve patients. An example was working to quickly bring on more traveling staff, of which we will soon have around 280 on our campuses. Given that we have found ways to serve patients right now, we decided it was prudent to pause the application and allow state resources to be used elsewhere where cases are rapidly increasing.

I also want to voice my support for Dr. Lathan with Springfield Public Schools for making the decision to require masking at this time. With increasing numbers of COVID cases and hospitalizations in pediatric patients, this is a crucial tool to keep kids in our community safe. Masking can help add another layer of protection beyond vaccination, especially in light of the transmissibility of the delta variant.

Patient and Family Advisory Council: NICU/Pediatrics

We are launching a new Patient and Family Advisory Council (PFAC) to help support our NICU and Pediatrics hospital departments. This new PFAC will help us find solutions to make our patients’ experiences even better. If you have had interactions with one of these departments and would like to participate, please call 417-269-4103.

Economic Impact Award

We were honored by the Springfield Business Journal to win their Economic Impact Award in our category, which was announced last night. It is truly a privilege to be part of this community and help give back to a place where we live, work and serve.

Voice of the Patient

From patient feedback at Cox Branson ED: “The nurse took the time to help me understand the dosing instructions and explained things to me several times until I understood.”

Thank you for all you do,

Steve

Direct Line from Steve Edwards: 7/30/21