VALLEY VIEW LEADING THE WAY

Valley View

Leading the Way RESPONDING TO THE COVID-19 GLOBAL PANDEMIC LOCALLY

Early in the year, Valley View began to prepare for the presence of the novel COVID-19 virus in the community and care for those patients affected by the virus. On March 6, 2020, the organization’s Incident Command team started meeting on a daily basis. The team represented a huge cross-section of Valley View: inpatient nurses, hospitalists, materials management staff, emergency department team members, family practice providers, pharmacists, employee health professionals, and executive leaders. The team began to organize and coordinate every possible response element needed to care for COVID-19 patients. Valley View quickly established and executed 146 objectives to respond to the pandemic. In a matter of weeks, Valley View transformed itself to lead the community in caring for those with COVID-19.

This level of teamwork, expertise and dedication for COVID-19 patients. The hospital developed was vital as community members in Valley View’s overflow plans and coordinated with other service area were diagnosed with the virus. For community organizations to create alternative those with COVID-19 who required medical care, care sites, if needed. Valley View’s physician practices were ready with new VirtualCare telehealth appointments. The ingenuity of Valley View nurses launched a New treatment areas opened, both indoors and sewing center for staff from other areas to help outdoors, to care for produce protective those sick with masks and gowns. COVID-19 across COVID-19 FROM THE CNO’S PERSPECTIVE This work was Valley View’s featured on national network of care. “When I look back on 2020, I think about the news as people across For example, strength, resiliency and flexibility that define how the country followed at Valley View we responded as a nursing body. But it’s not just the shortage of these Hospital, a nursing, I realized even more how every member protective supplies respiratory tent of our team contributes and how we can come together to accomplish anything when you have for medical personnel. was set up outside common goals. We continue into 2021 with the Incident Command of the main same goals: to take care of our staff and to take care addressed multiple, hospital building of our community. We are forever changed, but in ever-changes issues to triage patients many ways, it is for the good.” related to personal and perform protective equipment vital COVID-19 – Dawn Sculco, RN, MS, CNS (PPE), COVID-19 diagnostic testing. Chief Nursing Officer diagnostic testing The emergency and the medical department established treatment of two distinct areas to COVID-19 patients. care for those with COVID-19 symptoms and those Time and again, doctors, nurses and staff without. In addition, a new COVID-19 Community collaborated to understand challenges and Hotline opened to field questions and concerns work to address them. from the community. The generosity of the community helped to For COVID-19 patients requiring hospitalization, fuel this work, literally, with donations of many new spaces and rooms were constructed to meals. Notes from community members thanking support safe airflow and effective patient care. frontline staff were shared and posted across the Four new negative pressure rooms and an organization. Dental practices and tattoo shops antechamber were constructed in the hospital’s donated their masks and gloves to help protect the critical care unit. In acute care, space was nurses and doctors at Valley View. Financial gifts transformed to ensure appropriate care spaces to the Valley View Foundation also supported the

numerous, additional expenses incurred due to Valley View’s response to the virus.

In addition to caring for COVID-19 patients, Valley View also participated in forums and collaborated with the media. From Brett Hesse, MD, speaking with the El Montanes newspaper to David Brooks, MD, being interviewed by Aspen Public Radio, Valley View providers shared crucial information with the community about the virus. Valley View CEO Brian Murphy, MD, led weekly Facebook updates to make sure the community knew about the hospital’s capacity and ability to care for all patients. Valley View also worked to promote critical behaviors to slow the transmission of the virus: wearing a mask, practicing social distancing and frequent hand washing.

Valley View brought its expertise to support other businesses and key organizations in their response to COVID-19, too. Incident Command team members worked closely with local schools as they put together plans for hybrid and in-person learning. A special Zoom forum was also hosted for area dental professionals to share Valley View’s ‘lessons-learned,’ to help in the care of their patients and protection of their staff from the virus. Many other community business owners and leaders also turned to Valley View for its expertise as they sought to respond to COVID-19 and the various phases of the pandemic.

In mid-December, Valley View assumed a new role within the pandemic: vaccine administrator. Working from state and local public health guidelines, the team at Valley View administered the first COVID-19 vaccines on December 16, 2020. With the understanding that each vaccine administered represented a possible life saved, Valley View’s Incident Command team took up the community banner to administer as many vaccines as possible. Despite the challenges of vaccine supply, Valley View led the way in leading multiple vaccine clinics every week to administer thousands of COVID-19 vaccines at no cost. Staff from across Valley View were re-deployed to weekly vaccination clinics to perform this community service. The laughter and smiles from first responders to seniors receiving the vaccine were an incredible affirmation of the work and leadership in which so many at Valley View have contributed.

COVID-19 brought out the best in Valley View – its dedication to the community and to putting patients first. We are grateful to all who have rallied with us.

COVID-19 FROM THE CMO’S PERSPECTIVE

“As I reflect on 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has not only been one of the most difficult and trying years from a healthcare perspective, it has been one of the most inspiring and strengthening years during my entire medical career. The pandemic tested us but our medical staff, nurses and staff all came together to respond. Indeed, we are stronger for whatever may come in the future.” – David Brooks, MD Chief Medical Officer