CONNECTIONS April 2020
An award-winning newsletter for Orange Regional Medical Center employees, physicians and volunteers
From the CEO Over the last few months, we have come together for our patients and our community in extraordinary ways. As COVID-19 cases peaked and subsequently decline, we’ve gone above and beyond in teamwork and collaboration to provide exceptional care. We are happy to be slowly transitioning units back to their original state and purpose while continuing to follow state and federal guidelines to protect your safety and the safety of our patients. Teams are developing plans to ensure we can safely open for business once restrictions are lifted. While we are emerging from the height of the crisis, we are deeply saddened to say goodbye to two of our own, Livette Plan and John Lara, both passed away from complications of the coronavirus. All of us stand with Livette’s and John’s family and loved ones in mourning their loss and honoring their memory. With your help, we have raised over $24,000 to help their families. We will be celebrating the lives of Livette and John in the future. Nurses Week and Hospital Week are upon us. It’s a time to reflect on the incredible difference our collective hospital family makes in our community, on the lives we touch, on the patients we save, on the quality of life we help to restore. Our community has gone above and beyond to show us their love and support, affirming the positive impact we have on them. The staff at Orange Regional Medical Center have been nothing short of outstanding. And for that I am grateful. Thank you to everyone for everything you are doing! Sincerely,
Brian Tew, CEO Orange Regional Medical Center
GHVHS Virtual Visitation Program Helps Patients Stay Connected The role that family and friends play with our patients is invaluable. No matter how brief, a visit from a loved one can provide laughter, smiles and hope to our patients. With our necessary and mandated restricted visitation policy, we took an innovative approach to keeping our patients connected and created a virtual visitation process at our hospitals. Thank you to our Community Health employees, Amanda and Jennifer, and Catskill Regional Skilled Nursing Unit’s Activities Director, Matt, who are helping to support our system’s Virtual Patient Visitation Program. The program, initiated by our Patient Experience Department, allows staff to take iPads to patients, COVID-19 positive and non-positive, who need or would like to connect with their families and friends during this challenging time. Patients or family members can make requests through their nurse to virtually connect with family and friends.