by Philip Patterson, President, Ascension Providence
Health and safety amidst a global pandemic While we continue to navigate through unprecedented times, this new year brings much hope as the COVID-19 vaccines deliver a long-awaited milestone to end this pandemic. The emergence of the novel coronavirus presented the world with an unprecedented challenge. Not since the Spanish flu pandemic of 1918 have we faced such a daunting public health crisis. By late February 2020, it was clear our healthcare system, government and every American citizen would need to work together to conquer this invisible enemy. And now, as the vaccines continue to arrive in our local communities, there is hope for a brighter future. Throughout this pandemic, Ascension Providence leadership has found inspiration in witnessing the incredible and selfless work of caregivers at the front lines of our health system and across the country. The doctors, nurses, facility management teams and other support teams in our hospitals and clinics are giving everything they have to meet the needs of our Central Texas communities. These heroes are the embodiment of our mission to serve. Ascension Providence has remained focused on providing care for both COVID and non-COVID patients over the past 12 months. In February 2020, our clinical teams and support staff at the hospital and in our clinics operationalized quickly to address an unprecedented challenge. Now, a year later, it’s incredible to reflect on the 10 | SPRING 2021
momentous efforts that have occurred and that continue to keep our local communities healthy and safe. From the start of the pandemic, a joint leadership team formed as the McLennan County Leadership Response Team, a local response team dedicated to COVID-19 preparedness. This response team coordinated the collaboration of all COVID-19 efforts between healthcare systems, public health, elected officials and community leaders with a focus on operations, preparedness, public health messaging, and community needs. During the early months of the pandemic, Ascension Providence set up a drive-through COVID-19 testing center in Waco. The site was designed so that community members would never have to leave their vehicle to be tested, which helped ensure both their safety and the safety of our associates. As part of a national healthcare system, Ascension Providence was able to secure and maintain the needed personal protective equipment (PPE) to keep our associates, patients and visitors safe. Over the past 12 months, Ascension Providence has offered a number of treatments for COVID-19 patients, including plasma therapy, in conjunction with Carter BloodCare, as part of an investigational treatment for very sick hospitalized patients battling COVID-19. Ascension Providence also engaged a team to develop a safe and efficient process to provide bamlanivimab to our community through an outpatient infusion clinic when the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced
